Political Quotes

“Mr. President, before us as the Senate right now, aside from issues Mr. Blumenthal referred to, is the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. I am a physician, and I have been practicing in hospitals for the uninsured for the last 25 years. I would like to in one sense say that gives me special standing to speak about this issue, but in reality, it does not. Senator Moran from Kansas spoke up the other day at our lunch. He said that healthcare is like no other issue. He spoke of a friend of his approaching him at church with tears rolling down her face. Her mother had a preexisting condition, and she was so concerned that we get this right. I don't need to say I have special standing, being a physician. We all have special standing from living, having families and friends who--sooner or later, healthcare will affect the family. The Affordable Care Act for many is not working. Premiums are going sky high. Two or 3 days ago, I had communication with someone from San Francisco. Her young family has a $20,000-a-year premium, a $6,000 deductible for each member of the family--in San Francisco, already paying so much for housing, food, and transportation, and $20,000 on top of that for a family of relatively modest income. Then I spoke to someone in Washington, DC. His family's premium is $24,000; they have a $13,000 deductible. He said: I am out $37,000 before my insurance kicks in. I reassured him that his colonoscopy would be for free.…”