Frank Pallone: “I just wanted to assure my colleagues that the number one issue on people's minds, at least in my district, continues to…”

“I just wanted to assure my colleagues that the number one issue on people's minds, at least in my district, continues to be managed care reform. I think over the last 4 weeks I held about 20 town meetings or forums in various municipalities in my district, and it was the issue people were most concerned about before we left in August and it continues to be the one that I hear most about at town hall meetings and the open houses that I have had in my district offices. And I think it will be the major issue that people worry about in terms of legislative action in this Congress and that we need to address the issue before this Congress adjourns sometime in October. One of the things that a lot of people ask me is exactly what type of reform we have in mind. And I talk specifically about the Patients' Bill of Rights, which is the legislation that myself and other Democrats put forth before the House before the August break.”