Political Quotes

“I find it interesting, there is great concern about expanding discounts to people who are not on Medicaid. Do you know what is unfair in this country right now? The only people who pay retail, the only people who pay the highest prices in the world are people who are uninsured. No insurance company pays retail. Every insurance company, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, or any company, gets a discount. The States as well--when we buy for the VA hospital, the Federal Government--we negotiate a discount. Under Medicaid, we have given the States the ability to get what is, frankly, a modest discount--15 percent on brand name drugs, 11 percent on generics. So they don't pay retail. Nobody pays retail. Everybody gets a discount, except for one group--the uninsured in this country. The majority of those using prescriptions who are uninsured are our senior citizens--the seniors and the disabled of this country. How unfair that we would think they, too, should get a discount. This amendment only affects those who are uninsured. Why? Because everybody else already gets a discount. So if you vote no on this, you are saying this system right now that allows States to get discounts under Medicaid, the Federal Government for the VA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and every other system--our own insurance system as Federal employees, we don't pay retail--if you vote no, you are saying the only people who don't deserve a discount from retail are uninsured seniors and families.”