Political Quotes

“I am very hopeful the Senate will be able to get on the issue of prescription drug coverage very soon. This is an urgent issue for seniors and the people of this country. I want to spend a few minutes tonight talking about why this is so important and what I think the real challenge is to the Senate in the next couple of weeks. Mr. President, for the last quarter of the 20th century, the standard Government line on prescription drugs for older people was a little bit like the marquee of the big, old-fashioned theaters you would see downtown. The marquee sign was all lit up and it always read: ``Coming soon.'' But, for seniors, that ``soon'' just never seems to arrive. Years ago, when I was director of the Oregon Gray Panthers--I had the honor to be co-director for about 7 years before I was elected to the House--I got many of the questions then that all of us in the Senate get now. Seniors asked then, just as they do now at our town meetings, if anybody in Washington is ever going to provide some real help in paying for prescription medicines. I am very pleased that Senator Daschle has made this a priority issue for the Senate. He has made it very clear to me that he is willing to work with anybody in the Senate to finally get this job done and to get it done right. I think we know what this issue is all about for seniors, and that is the cost of medicine and coverage for medicine.”