Frank Pallone: “I must say that I was pleased to hear that my Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle were concerned about…”

“I must say that I was pleased to hear that my Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle were concerned about the issue. I certainly do not doubt their sincerity in raising the issue, but I am very concerned about the proposal that the Republican leadership has put forward and I express that concern because I do not believe that it will actually do anything to provide a prescription drug benefit to most American seniors. I say that with heavy heart because I really believe that this is one of the most important issues that we need to address in this Congress, and I believe that we will not get a prescription drug benefit unless we get it on a bipartisan basis. But it is also important to point out distinctions and to make it clear that the Republican leadership proposal that has been set forth really does not do anything to help most senior citizens and in fact is just, in my opinion, a way to show concern in an election year to give the impression that somehow this issue is going to be addressed in an effective way when it will not if the Republican plan were to be adopted.”