Rod Grams: “2 weeks ago there was a tremendous break-through in the health care reform debate: President Clinton endorsed the…”

“2 weeks ago there was a tremendous break-through in the health care reform debate: President Clinton endorsed the Nickles/Stearn consumer choice plan. An endorsement of the Nickles-Stearns plan, you say. When? Where? Why? Well, let me use the President's own words taken from his State of the Union Address: The American people provide those of us in government service with terrific health care benefits at reasonable costs. We have health care that's always there. I think we need to give every hardworking, taxpaying American the same health care security they have already given to us. It is true, Federal employees have a health care system that puts them in charge, not huge Government bureaucracies. And, most importantly, this system is the model for the Nickles-Stearns consumer choice plan. I wonder what changed the President's thinking. Maybe he realized there is no health care crisis, that targeted reform is what we need. Maybe he realized that rather than riding in on his 'White Horse' to save the day he should keep it tied up in the White House stable. Mr. President, take a close look at the Nickles-Stearns consumer choice plan, it is health care reform that puts consumers in charge, not the Government. And most importantly, it is the plan that you and I already have.”