Political Quotes

“What has happened on this very simple bill? Kassebaum-Kennedy was a simple bill that dealt with two problems. It dealt with the problem of preexisting condition and the problem with portability. Then Speaker Gingrich and Republican leaders have chosen to attach to this bill all kinds of special-interest provisions for the largest insurance companies in America. All we are asking simply is that the House pass, that we instruct conferees to do what the Senate did when the Senate passed this bill unanimously a hundred to nothing and when the Senate defeated medical savings accounts. All we are asking is that Kassebaum-Kennedy be dealt with cleanly and simply, that we have a ban on preexisting condition and that we deal with the problems of portability so people can move their insurance from one employer to another employer. All Speaker Gingrich wants to do, what he wants to do is load up this bill with special-interest provisions to pay back big insurance companies that have helped Republican campaigns in the last couple of years. The choice is clear. Vote ``yes'' on health reform. Vote ``yes'' on the motion to instruct.”