Political Quotes

“first, on the Republican healthcare bill, my good friend the Republican leader says that there should be amendments on the floor. On such an important matter, it would be astounding if we didn't have committee hearings and committee votes on such a bill. I know there is an attempt to rush it through, but if it is such a fine product, it ought to withstand the scrutiny of hearings and of markups in the various committees. To rush it through is an indication that the sponsors of the bill, the supporters of the bill, are not very proud of it, and that is a theme that has continued with the executive branch and the Speaker of the House. As we know, CBO estimated that it would cause 24 million fewer Americans to have health insurance--I don't hear the Republican leader mention that, of course--while raising premiums in the short term and jacking up the price of healthcare for older Americans. We have heard from the other side of the aisle that access is what is important. No, it isn't. Access doesn't get you healthcare. I have access to walk into a Lamborghini dealer and look at a Lamborghini, but I can't afford one. That is true of average Americans, and that is true of healthcare as well. Access doesn't get you healthcare, and it is a far cry from what people need. Because the bill helps so many fewer Americans, because the bill seems to be a tax break for the wealthy above all, it is having its trouble, and nobody seems to really want to embrace it.…”