Joe Barton: “I want to make a couple of very quick comments on the process. I had the privilege to attend a National Governors…”

“I want to make a couple of very quick comments on the process. I had the privilege to attend a National Governors Association Conference early last spring on the issue of Medicaid reform, and Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal was with me at that conference, and Ranking Member Dingell and, I believe, even subcommittee Ranking Member Brown was at that conference. And the Governors, on a bipartisan basis, said they wanted to work with the House Energy and Commerce Committee to help reform Medicaid this year. They supported legislative action. Mr. Deal and I said we would be happy to work with the Governors to try to come up with a bipartisan package. Ranking Member Dingell, at that conference, I cannot remember his exact quote, but it was something to the effect that it would be over his and the other Democrats on the committee's dead political bodies that they tried to do anything to reform Medicaid. And they have been true to their word. I do not believe any Democrat on my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, voted at any level to help reform and improve and maintain the integrity of our Medicaid program, which is one of the most important health care programs in this country for low-income and senior citizens, low-income Americans and senior citizens. Today, the House will make important reforms in telecommunications and Medicaid in the title provided by the committee I chair, the Energy and Commerce Committee.…”