Thomas Daschle: “I, too, intend to support this bill. I am thinking of the old joke about a camel being a horse designed by a committee.…”

“I, too, intend to support this bill. I am thinking of the old joke about a camel being a horse designed by a committee. Oftentimes, I think of that as we work our will on legislation. In many respects, this is the legislative version of a committee horse, a camel. It is not the kind of bill I would write. It is not the kind of bill I would cosponsor. It is not the kind of bill I would enthusiastically endorse. I look at some of the concerns we have about this legislation-- concerns about an unlimited volatility in the premium, uncertainty about the benefit package, uncertainty with regard to the deductible, uncertainty with regard to the backup, uncertainty with regard to the way the provisions can be provided in rural areas. There are many issues. Mostly I think there is far greater confusion than there is understanding with regard to the benefits themselves as seniors attempt to determine whether they will be assisted by this bill. The confusion and the uncertainty will be issues that we have to address at some later date.”