Political Quotes

“I rise to speak on an issue we discussed last week that I will shed further light on, which is the broad topic of health care in America. I listened last week with some disappointment to the comments made in the Senate by the distinguished Democratic leader regarding health care costs. The senior Senator from Massachusetts repeated some of the Democratic leader's critique of the President's policies on health care. Because both of my colleagues left an incomplete picture, I take a moment to step back and give a more realistic assessment of where we are today and where we should be going. America has the best doctors, the best nurses, the best hospitals, the best medical technology, the best medical breakthrough medicines in the world. There is absolutely no reason we should not have in this country the best health care in the world. The time has come for common sense--not Washington--to determine how patients interact with doctors and with hospitals. The time has come for health care professionals, not Government or HMO bureaucrats, to make health care decisions. The time has come to put patients and consumers back in charge. Under the leadership of President Bush, we have taken measurable, concrete steps toward making quality health care more affordable, more available, and more reliable. Although much work remains to be done, a comprehensive, independent study confirms that we are, indeed, moving in the right direction.”