Anthony Weiner: “I think all of the assembled Parliamentarians, staffers, the histrionics of the other side, the apoplexy over the idea…”

“I think all of the assembled Parliamentarians, staffers, the histrionics of the other side, the apoplexy over the idea that perhaps we might actually reduce premiums is fairly instructive to this debate. We had no hearings on this. We had no chance to mark it up. We had no chance to include a reduction in premiums. The gentleman from Georgia said this is a pro-consumer thing. If you really wanted it to be pro-consumer, you would reduce premiums. I would ask any Member on the other side of the aisle who supports this bill to simply say, We do not really care about reducing premiums. Mr. Speaker, who we are fighting for in this bill is the insurance industry; they are getting protected. The HMOs, they are getting protected. The pharmaceutical companies, that is who is being protected by H.R. 5. But, frankly, do not deceive the American public by what this bill will do. Insurance prices will not go down. Do Members know how we know this? First of all, the industry themselves have said in public that they have no intention of reducing premiums if this legislation is passed. We can look at other States that have caps. Find me one where insurance premiums went down. Look at California, ask them whether their premiums have gone down. Frankly, the only way we know for sure that premiums will go down is to cap the premiums, but you will not do that. Not only will you not do that; you will do everything possible to avoid even considering it.…”