Political Quotes

“When we talk about saving one-third of the surplus for programs, one of those programs is something that President Bush talked about wanting. And that is now the subject matter of the first amendment before this body; is it not? That is a prescription drug benefit for Medicare. My first elective job was as a member of a hospital board--at that time the largest hospital in Nevada, Southern Nevada Hospital. It was in 1965 that Medicare came into being. Medicare is a wonderful program. It has been proven to be a great program even since then--imperfect but it is a good program. But in 1965, when Medicare came into being, there was no need for prescription drug benefits because there were not a lot of prescriptions that met the needs of the senior population at that time. It has only been in the last 35 years that prescription drugs have come out that now keep people alive. They can make people more comfortable, and they heal people. How can we as the only superpower left in the world have a program for senior citizens to take care of their medical problems and we don't have prescription drug benefits? It is my understanding that in the Senator's amendment, one-third is going to be reserved for programs. Part of that money will be used for a prescription drug benefits for seniors. Is that not right? And in the program that the Republicans have offered, there is no money in their prescription drug benefit. Is that fair?”