Richard Gephardt: “this process, this rule is an outrage against the American people. It has been said that the Republican plan is a…”

“this process, this rule is an outrage against the American people. It has been said that the Republican plan is a bipartisan plan. It is not a bipartisan plan. There has been no conversation about this plan and the putting together of the plan with the members of our Committee on Ways and Means. There has been no conversation between the leadership on either side about how we could build a bipartisan plan to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. This process is a grave disservice to all Americans. The debate is being shut down on the most important issue to American seniors since the creation of Medicare. The decision of the majority does more than deny the view of the Democratic minority to be heard, it denies the American people a vote on a plan that would provide real affordable, definable, and guaranteed prescription medicine benefits for America's seniors. This debate, like so many of the debates we have held in this Congress this year, is always my way or the highway. Bipartisan is defined by: Are you for our partisan bill? Not: Can we work together to find real bipartisanship? I believe the other party is stooping to this level simply for politics. They are intent on passing anything that is called 'prescription coverage' in order to avoid the issue being raised in the November elections. It is the passage of a press release. It is the passage of a statement of intent.”