Ben Cardin: “first let me thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me this time. I was listening to her comments. I just want…”

“first let me thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me this time. I was listening to her comments. I just want to concur in that this is a very unusual process. Once again we are not going to have full debate and the opportunity to offer amendments. Although we might be getting used to it because it seems to be the norm around here, we should never be silent as to how this is wrong. We should have an opportunity to offer amendments. We should have an opportunity for an open process. We should have an opportunity to debate a bill on its merits. And we are not going to get that chance. Mr. Speaker, let me mention just two matters that affect the people that I represent in Maryland and the reason I took this time. First, I agree with the previous speaker on this side of the aisle that we should be doing something to bring down the cost of prescription medicines in this country. That is why I will vote against ordering the previous question, because I think we should have a debate on the floor dealing with the cost of medicines which is still the number one problem that I hear when I go to my town hall meetings. The second issue deals with these association health plans. I went to the Committee on Rules and asked for an amendment that would exempt States from these association health plans if the State requested it and they had a small-market reform which already provided help for their small businesses.”