Political Quotes

“Well, clearly the majority leadership thinks that the American people are so stupid that if you have a rule that says, you know what, if you vote for the rule, then the bill automatically is deemed passed. I just don't know anybody in the American public that can't figure out when you voted for the rule, I don't care what you say, you voted to pass the bill. As far as it passing constitutional muster, who knows anymore with this Court. But I do know, as the gentlemen, both of you have been talking about the deals and Medicare Advantage, and I have got the Senate bill here, this lovely thing, and the truth is the only people that ought to pass this bill are people that eat it. A little digestive humor there. If you eat it, then yes, you should pass it. But otherwise this bill should not be passed. But if you look at page 904 of part one of two parts of the Senate health care bill, and you wonder, gee, I wonder why AARP came out a couple weeks ago and said, oh, yes, we like the proposal, we are all on board. Well, you look at the Senate bill, it says that nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the Secretary to accept every bid submitted by a Medicare Advantage organization. And so also the Secretary may deny a bid submitted by a Medicare Advantage organization for a Medicare Advantage plan if it proposes significant increases. But the bottom line here is the Secretary doesn't have to accept a bid.…”