George H.W. Bush: “Now, let me just say at the outset, what we are here to talk about is health care reform. We have some ideas up there…”

“Now, let me just say at the outset, what we are here to talk about is health care reform. We have some ideas up there that we feel make a great deal of sense. I know that some of you all have a program. I keep reading that the Democrats say they want to make a political statement before the convention. Far more important than a political statement, it seems to me, is getting something done that will allay the fears that people have and help in the health care reform area. We've got a good program for insurance. We'll protect the quality of American health care. And what I'd like to get from everybody here today is how you feel we can get it done. The small market reforms are good; the increased tax deductions for the self-employed, very good; and we make some administrative statements. I'd like to hear if we could move forward on malpractice reform. But these are some of the ingredients of what we think is a very helpful, very practical, and forward-looking health care program. So I hope that we can move it. Perot Investigations”