William R. Richardson: “inside the Beltway the special interests and the Republicans are saying the health care bill is in trouble. They are…”

“inside the Beltway the special interests and the Republicans are saying the health care bill is in trouble. They are saying this, despite the fact that the first inning has not even started, and we have not even had one vote on the plan. Mr. Speaker, those that count President Clinton out early should remember what happened with the budget reconciliation bill and with NAFTA. Outside the Beltway the American people want health care reform, and they want the President's plan. The truth of the matter is that the President's plan makes sense, and it is the only one on the table that provides guaranteed private insurance that can never be taken away. Mr. Speaker, inside the beltway everybody is crowing about how the health care plan is in trouble. But when the American people see who is doing what, they will side with the President's plan. And once again, like NAFTA, like the budget reconciliation bill, the President's plan will win. Mr. Speaker, the president is leading this Nation and leading the fight for health care reform. He has driven this process and the American people know that the health care system is broken and needs to be fixed.”