Lizzie Fletcher: “this evening we are addressing one of the most pressing health care issues in America. I am very disappointed that my…”

“this evening we are addressing one of the most pressing health care issues in America. I am very disappointed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, when we marked up the budget, they absolutely set aside no amount of money, zippo. They did nothing to set aside any money for prescription drugs for seniors. There was no plan in order to provide the funding for the plan that they offered in the committee; and it was a $973 billion plan offered in the committee. There was no way of paying for it. This burden was going to be on our children and grandchildren, and the other side of the aisle offered no single way of paying for it. Mr. Speaker, they talked about taxes, but they did not offer the tax increase that would have been required. Are they taking it from Social Security? That is where it would have had to come from. Now they talk about controlling cost. We eliminated the best prices which eliminated the floor. Congressional Budget Office estimates this has the most cost-controlling policy of any plan offered. That means we are going to provide the most competitive prices for drugs. I encourage Members to support the rule and the bill.”