Political Quotes

“I agree with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). I was in the middle of hundreds of hours of discussion and debate in committee, on the floor. It is amazing to think of all the time and energy that went into it. Was it a perfect bill? Absolutely not. It would have been much better if the legislative process hadn't collapsed in the Senate and forced reconciliation as the vehicle. The offer to somehow become bipartisan and work together to solve the problems ring hollow. I have been on the Ways and Means Committee for the last 6 years when Republicans were in charge with constant efforts to repeal ObamaCare, but they refused to work with us to fine-tune the legislation when we could move forward and build on this foundation and not be in a situation where we are going to unsettle healthcare markets, leave people doubting about where they are, and having no clue about what comes forward. There is a reason, after 6 years, the Republicans do not have an alternative to offer now. It is because their wildly contradictory promises cannot be met. I urge rejection of the rule and rejection of this effort to gut the most important healthcare reform in the last 50 years.”