Bob Kerrey: “I come today to discuss briefly the health care debate. The Republican Members of this body are having a retreat. I…”

“I come today to discuss briefly the health care debate. The Republican Members of this body are having a retreat. I think those of us on the other side of the aisle need to listen very carefully when they come back from their retreat as to what they are willing to do. The one thing that I believe strongly about health care today is that the American people cannot afford in 1994 for us to do nothing; that we have to have the wisdom and the perseverance necessary to put together a piece of legislation that has both Republicans and Democrats on it. We ought to give some on this side of the aisle, and they ought to give some on their side of the aisle in an effort to enact legislation. Mr. President, since the President introduced his legislation which he presented to the American people last fall, I have made an effort to learn what is in that bill. I view the President's bill as the vehicle for action. He, after all, is the President. He has spent a great deal of take time looking at that issue. He has presented a very thoughtful piece of legislation, frankly not as confusing as described. There are 11 sections in it. Yes, the legislation is long. It is 1,300 or 1,400 pages. But it seems to me on an issue this important, we should not expect to get three or four pages of law. It is long; it is thoughtful; it is detailed; and it specifies how the bills are to be paid. And it provides for universal coverage.…”