Frank Pallone: “Yesterday when we had the debate on the bill that would protect Members of Congress and Federal employees, the gentleman…”

“Yesterday when we had the debate on the bill that would protect Members of Congress and Federal employees, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), one of the gentlewoman's colleagues, got up and pointed out that when the Senate passed their drug prescription drug bill before the break, they actually put in an amendment at the initiative, I think, of some Members that said that in no circumstances could Members of Congress get a more generous benefit than the rest of the seniors. And there was a quote in an article that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland) brought on the floor where one of the Republican Members was saying that he did not have to worry, that he voted for that amendment because had he a guarantee that that amendment would never survive the conference, and that whatever bill came out of conference that we would finally vote on and go to the President, if there is such a bill, would not have that provision in it. So it was just amazing.…”