Political Quotes

“if we had to pick winners and losers in the health care debate, the winner clearly is the health insurance industry. They set out to confuse and frighten the American public, and they did that. I have to tell them that I think they did a good job. But that does not take away from the fact that we still now have problems with health care in this country. Senator Daschle has recognized this in his legislation which continues a commitment to provide Americans with accessible and affordable health care by addressing those pressing concerns of working families. This legislation will clamp down on insurance practices that often cause families and small businesses to lose their coverage. I learned in this health care debate that we did not spend enough time trying to look out for small businesses. This legislation does that. The elements in this bill are those areas upon which there is I believe, and Senator Daschle believes, broad bipartisan consensus to do some health care reform. This bill will ensure portability, eliminate preexisting conditions exclusions, and prohibit companies from charging consumers higher rates than others with the same policy or raising rates after consumers get sick. This bill will also require all insurers to offer at least one plan that will give benefits similar to what Members of Congress have.”