Political Quotes

“for 8 years I had the privilege of representing North Dakota as its State insurance commissioner. During that time I evaluated the health insurance crises experienced by families all across the State. While undoubtedly there were many facets to the problems I encountered, far and away the largest problem was affordability. I am astounded that the previous speaker could talk about affordability as a health issue addressed by the majority plan and deride the substitute, when in fact, deductibility of health insurance premium geared specifically at enhancing the affordability of coverage is the feature best exemplified in the substitute, as opposed to the majority plan. Look at the facts: Fifty percent deductibility immediately under the substitute, and only 30 percent under the majority plan, phasing up to 80 percent deductibility under the substitute plan, and only 50 percent in the majority plan. The difference between 80 percent and 50 percent deductibility is the difference between affordability and unaffordability of health insurance for farm families, for self-employed families in North Dakota and all across the country. The No. 1 problem for so many families with health insurance tonight, Mr. Speaker, is affordability. Let us make it more affordable by increasing the deductibility. Only the substitute, in my opinion, goes the limits it needs to increasing the deductibility for purposes of making this coverage more affordable.”