Political Quotes

“this body is scheduled to vote on medical malpractice legislation. This bill contains an egregious provision to protect drug companies from any form of liability. Why would this Congress protect companies like Merck, who deceived the American public by hiding the side effects of Vioxx? An estimated 139,000 people have had heart attacks as a result of taking Vioxx, and, according to the FDA, 55,000 people have died. I am not aware of any other industry that would receive this type of liability protection just for going through the government approval process. The fact is that drug companies have made a smart investment. There is no other place in the world that would give them this type of return on their investment but this Congress. On one side of the screen, Americans are fighting for fairness in the court. On the other side of the screen, Congress is mounting a rear- guard action to protect the pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Speaker, when Congress takes up this medical malpractice legislation, I will introduce the Vioxx amendment to strike this blatantly beneficial provision just for the drug companies. When the Speaker's gavel comes down, it is intended to open the people's House, not the auction house. ____________________”