Political Quotes

“many people recall that over a year ago there was a debate on the Senate floor about the cost of prescription drugs. It was a lengthy debate, and it involved a lot of concern about the fact that a lot of senior citizens find the life-protecting drugs they are taking to be too expensive. We have known for a long time that Medicare, a very valuable Federal Government program, has been more than miraculous in its results. When it was instituted during the term of President Lyndon Johnson, there was hope it would help seniors pay for their medical bills and improve the quality of their lives. It has done that and more. It has become an extremely valuable program because seniors have used Medicare for access to doctors and hospitals, and the proof is in longevity. Seniors are living longer. They are getting better medical care. It was truly one of the best Government programs ever created, but there was a gap in those programs. It didn't cover prescription drugs for those who were not in the hospital. So seniors found that new drugs that kept them healthy and out of the hospital were too expensive. Some couldn't take the drugs because they couldn't afford them. Others had to make terrible life choices between their lifesaving drugs and basic necessities of life. For a long time we have talked about establishing under Medicare a prescription drug program that would help these seniors--and disabled people, who also qualify under Medicare.”