Bill Pascrell: “I just heard the epitome of hypocrisy from the gentleman from California when he tried to interrupt the gentleman from…”

“I just heard the epitome of hypocrisy from the gentleman from California when he tried to interrupt the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and he would not let the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) into the room and the likes of the leadership. If this is not hypocrisy, what is? The movie ``Thelma and Louise,'' watch it. Louise turns to Thelma and says ``You get what you settle for.'' And how right she was. This prescription drug bill is the worst example of accepting what we are given. The administration is telling seniors that they should settle. They have convinced that the AARP that they are getting half a loaf, which is, of course, better than no bread at all. But, seniors, beware. They are not getting a slice even, they are not getting a half a loaf. These are the crumbs off the table. Our seniors will be settling for crumbs while the special interests are getting fat, and are they happy this week. Today, the leaders on the other side are here to try to pass a bill that provides a weak prescription drug benefit, that fails to lower drug costs because the bill prohibits the government to try to help negotiate down the cost of the drugs. They specifically put that into the legislation. And it privatizes Medicare. It changes Medicare as we know it, pushing millions of seniors into HMOs. And this is fiscally irresponsible. Do the Members know what HMOs have done in New Jersey? They have shoved 79,000 people out of those HMOs since 1999.”