Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this rule is a terrible rule. The rule does not recognize alternatives. It does not recognize the importance of this debate. For instance, in rural Maine, there is no private insurance market and no matter how high we pile the money, no one is going there to offer the care. We are going to be writing a check to the HMO insurance companies instead of providing universal voluntary and affordable coverage for Maine senior citizens. We have over 211,000 seniors in Maine on Medicare, over 15 percent, 16 percent of the State's population. They are dependent upon having the ability to have drug coverage and there is no private insurance market. They pay higher costs than urban or suburban areas. We need to make sure that it is part of the Medicare program and it is universal across the board. I have heard references here today about John Kennedy and Harry Truman. Let me tell my colleagues, I do not know them, but I have read about them, and if they were here, I am sure that they would be distressed about what is being passed by the Republican leadership in the House today. Mr. Speaker, I urge a vote against this rule and for more common sense legislation.”