Frank Pallone: “I know the gentleman was on this Medicare Commission, and the commission basically rejected by a vote this voucher…”

“I know the gentleman was on this Medicare Commission, and the commission basically rejected by a vote this voucher proposal. I just wish we could just develop it a little more, because I think this is the one thing that people just do not understand, that they probably would not even believe what the gentleman just said. If I went to my constituents and asked five of them, did you hear what the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) said, they would not believe that is what the House Republicans are proposing. But it is, in fact, what they are proposing in this bill. I basically said to a couple of my Republican colleagues exactly what the gentleman said. This was their response. I said, see if we can develop it. They said well, it is not exactly like that. I said, ``What happens if there is not anything? What happens if the senior goes out and tries to take this $4,500 voucher and tries to buy this private health insurance and it is not available?'' They said, ``Oh, it will be available, because we will make it profitable for them to go into this business.'' So, on further reflection, I understood. I wanted to get the gentleman's comment on this. What they will do? Because there is no defined benefit. Right now if you get Medicare, you have to get certain benefits and certain things. They will simply reduce the benefits.…”