Earl Pomeroy: “I believe that this election was about restoring more of a bipartisan tone to the functions of this Chamber. And in that…”

“I believe that this election was about restoring more of a bipartisan tone to the functions of this Chamber. And in that context, I want to tell the departing chairman I wish him well as his service in this body comes to a conclusion. I wish all my Ways and Means colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, a very happy holiday season. There are several portions of this bill that are important, and I applaud those who constructed this legislation for including these components. But there is a lot of good in this bill, and I don't want it lost in the discussion here. I chair, along with Greg Walden, a bipartisan group, the Rural Health Care Coalition. We have advanced legislation to try to improve the unfairness of the Medicare system relative to rural hospitals. I am pleased that the bill includes provisions, including a continuation of the geographic classification issue, section 508, that was in the Medicare Modernization Act and addresses reasonable cost payment for lab tests in small rural hospitals and a number of other provisions found their way into this bill.”