Thomas Daschle: “This issue really does define us. It is an issue that, in many respects, reflects our party's approach to the larger…”

“This issue really does define us. It is an issue that, in many respects, reflects our party's approach to the larger issue of access to health care in this country. Year after year and time after time in Congress after Congress many of us have come to the floor expressing a desire to expand ways to protect people from the serious problems they face when they have inadequate health coverage. Many of us have had personal family experiences in recent times that personalize this issue for us. Those of us who have parents who have suffered as a result of illnesses can thank our predecessors for the foresight they demonstrated in bringing Medicare to people that otherwise would not have had any health coverage. Indeed, other provisions of this legislation recognize the importance of expanding health coverage by encouraging States to find new ways to insure children. So how ironic, at the very time we are expanding health care for one segment of our population we are taking it away from another. How ironic. Mr. President, this is too important an issue to be left to a brief debate on an amendment in a reconciliation bill. This ought to be the subject of a weeklong debate.”