Bob Menendez: “My colleagues, make no mistake, this bill is a special deal for special interests. The patients' bill of rights went…”

“My colleagues, make no mistake, this bill is a special deal for special interests. The patients' bill of rights went into the White House emergency room with the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) and it came out as an ``HMO Bill of Rights,'' an ``Insurance Bill of Rights,'' a special set of rights no other industry in America has. And speaking of rights, this bill kills State rights in protecting patients. Just this week in New Jersey, a Republican governor signed a bill passed by a Republican legislature which would provide for enforcing our patients' bill of rights. This bill we are debating today destroys New Jersey's patients' protections, and California and Texas and every other State's right to protect patients, by superceding it. This bill is a huge step backwards in patient protections. This bill will not guarantee the care patients deserve and need but it will guarantee HMOs' abuses. Let us vote for patients, for people, for our constituents, and against the special interests. Vote against the rule and the bill.”