Political Quotes

“I thank the Chair. Last Thursday, the 18th of July, Senators Kennedy, Miller, Corzine, and I offered this amendment to provide affordable, comprehensive, and reliable prescription drug coverage for the 39 million older Americans and disabled citizens who are currently covered by Medicare. I have an interest in all Americans who will benefit by the adoption of this proposal. I have a particular interest in the 2,750,000 of these Americans who call their home Florida. I do not wish to repeat the remarks I made last Thursday, so let me just recap some of the principles that we think are important and should be the touchstone in evaluating any plan that is proposed for prescription drugs. We believe these principles include: a modernization of the Medicare Program; providing beneficiaries with real benefit; giving to the beneficiaries real choices; using a delivery system that seniors can rely upon and is affordable for the beneficiaries; and a program which is fiscally prudent. I also outlined last Thursday our specific proposal and indicated how it complied with those principles of a prescription drug program for Medicare. What does our proposal provide? We guarantee a universal benefit to all seniors, no matter where they live; that if they determine it is in their interest to voluntarily elect to participate in the prescription drug plan, they would pay $25 per month for that participation. Having done so, assistance would begin with the very first prescription.”