Political Quotes

“yesterday we witnessed one of the biggest legislative shams of the 106th Congress. This Congress did not pass a prescription drug benefit to help our seniors; we passed an insurance policy. From the Patient's Bill of Rights to education funding, my colleagues have used Democratic rhetoric to masquerade their bad ideas. They are using the same old strategy, watered-down legislation to ultimately secure its failure. We did not even get a vote on an alternative. The Republican bill costs seniors more each year, but it gives them less. It was either their way or the highway. Well, our seniors see through this sham, and maybe in November they will give them the highway. Today, I have seniors from my own district, from my home, visiting D.C. They are from the Magnolia Multipurpose Center in Houston. And I have to tell them that, yes, they now have a benefit; but only if their insurance policy decides to give it to them. And who knows how much it will cost. Mr. Speaker, we should be providing lifesaving pharmaceuticals to seniors, not an insurance policy. We should be providing a secure, stable and reliable benefit instead of creating a bureaucratic nightmare. And we should be building up Medicare, not tearing it down. Our seniors deserve more than a voucher.”