Political Quotes

“I wanted to say a few words about the new Republican healthcare plan that was just announced a few hours ago. While there are some modest changes in it, the truth of the matter is that this plan remains a disaster. It remains an embarrassment. I think the indication that it is an embarrassment is that with legislation that would impact about one-sixth of the American economy of over $3 trillion a year--legislation that, because it is healthcare, impacts virtually everybody--there has not been one public hearing on this legislation. It has all been done behind closed doors. Honestly, no matter what one's view may be on where we as a Nation should go with healthcare, whether you like this bill or you don't like this bill, I just don't know how someone can seriously say that we don't have to hear from physicians about the impact of this legislation on their ability to treat their patients. I just don't know how you do that--or that we don't have to hear from hospitals. I come from a rural State. What will the impact of this legislation and the massive $800 billion cuts on Medicaid do to rural hospitals all over the United States? There is some belief that many rural hospitals in areas where they are desperately needed will be forced to shut down. Is that the truth? That is what I hear, but I can't tell you definitively because there hasn't been a hearing on that issue.…”