Frank Pallone: “working families in America have been told that soon the Republican leadership of the House will unveil proposals to…”

“working families in America have been told that soon the Republican leadership of the House will unveil proposals to address the crises of teen smoking and managed care. I do not know why America and the press have to wait for some grand unveiling. If my colleagues want to know what the Republican leadership's position is on tobacco and managed care, just read the position papers of the tobacco companies and the insurance industry. If my colleagues want to see the tobacco policies of Newt Gingrich, just turn on TV and they will see $50 million worth of tobacco ads which the Speaker fully endorses. Any new legislation Republicans will lamely attempt to pass off as responsible domestic policy has the stamp of approval of big tobacco and the wealthy insurance industry, which means that it will do nothing. The gentleman from Georgia (Speaker Gingrich) and the Republican leadership are so dependent upon special-interest money, all they manage to do is ratify the status quo. Tobacco companies will still be allowed to peddle their poison to our kids, and American working families will still be trapped in inadequate health care plans.”