Political Quotes

“Senator Grassley said that an amendment which I added in the Appropriations Committee, in his words, would ``lead to anarchy in the Medicaid financial arrangements.'' He said it would prevent CMS from taking any action relating to the rules related to Medicaid reimbursement and SCHIP reimbursement. Senator Grassley recounted a time not that long ago when there was abuse of the Medicaid Program; where, in fact, States had figured ways to receive Medicaid funds and multiply them through accounting methods and use them in many instances for other purposes. In fact, Senator Grassley talked about the fact that under this behavior of the past, the money the States managed to multiply through accounting techniques could be used for roads or for stadium construction. That is true. I thought it was an outrage. As a result, there was a hue and cry on Capitol Hill for a change in the law or more enforcement and these abuses were rooted out. I am happy to say my State of Illinois did not participate in any of these scams. I am proud they did not. Other States did, and it stopped, as it should have.”