Ed Markey: “it is with sorrow and frustration that I rise to oppose this bill. Reform of our health care system is long overdue. The…”

“it is with sorrow and frustration that I rise to oppose this bill. Reform of our health care system is long overdue. The fact that some 40 million Americans do not have health insurance is an absolute disgrace, and it is high time that we do something about it. Last week the Committee on Commerce unanimously approved legislation that would have provided at least some relief to millions of hardworking American families by ending job lock and limiting the use of preexisting condition clauses. It was a good first step. It was incremental, to be sure. It would have guaranteed that health care was affordable, but at least it would have been accessible. It was modest, and for that reason I had hoped that a large majority of Members from both sides of the aisle could support it. Mr. Speaker, my mother always says that a half a loaf is better than none, and I supported that bill, even though it was really only a couple of slices. I know the American people want the whole loaf. Unfortunately, the leadership has taken a couple of good, wholesome slices of health insurance reform and slapped a whole lot of extraneous junk food on top, creating a health care hoagie of medical savings accounts, caps on medical malpractice awards, and other unhealthy additives. These anchovies and olives and onions are sure to tickle the taste buds of a very few special interests, but cause heartburn for millions of consumers.”