Ed Markey: “these are very simple instructions. It says, say yes to Kennedy-Kassebaum. Say yes to portability. Say yes to a ban on…”

“these are very simple instructions. It says, say yes to Kennedy-Kassebaum. Say yes to portability. Say yes to a ban on preexisting conditions. That is what our instructions here today are to the negotiators. Let us get this done. It says no to medical savings accounts and no to medical malpractice caps. It says no to all of the special interest feeding frenzy which is now building up around this bill. American families are concerned about job lock; they cannot move with their medical insurance. They are afraid that they have preexisting conditions that will make it impossible for them to ever get new insurance, so we are trying to protect them. But now what happens is all the special interests ride in with this very important bill and they try to turn it into a goodie grab bag for all of their special interest concerns. Kennedy-Kassebaum is not perfect, but it is a very good bill; and it is what the American people want: portability, preexisting conditions protected against. My mother always said that half a loaf is better than none. I support Kennedy-Kassebaum, even though it is really a couple of slices and I know that the American people want a whole loaf so that they have not only health insurance which is accessible but also affordable. But we cannot get that done this year. There will be no bill.…”