Political Quotes

“another matter: healthcare. According to reports, Republican Senators were planning to use the State work period last week to rewrite their healthcare bill. Well, now we are back in session, and unfortunately my friends on the other side of the aisle don't seem to be any closer to having a bill. If they do have one, they are hiding it and going down the same path as House Republicans-- drafting a bill that will impact tens of millions in secret, no transparency, no committee hearings, no debate. Even with all this secrecy, more and more Republicans seem increasingly pessimistic about finding a Republican-only bill that can get 50 votes in the Senate. Over the weekend, the senior Republican Senator from North Carolina, Mr. Burr, said: ``I don't see a comprehensive health-care plan this year.'' Just yesterday, Senator Thune, a member of the Republican leadership, said the Republicans may rush a healthcare bill to the floor before they know if it has the support of their caucus. Well, my friends on the other side of the aisle are learning how difficult it is to refigure our healthcare system under a process with only votes from one party--the so-called reconciliation process--and do it in a way that actually improves our healthcare, not devastate it, as the House bill would.…”