Political Quotes

“I continue to object to my friends on the other side referring to this as a bipartisan bill. They know that no Democratic Member of this House was allowed to participate in the negotiations. And it is your bill, and you are going to have to live with it. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry), our representatives, were shut out; and you ought to recognize that. I think it is intellectually dishonest to refer to it as a bipartisan bill. This bill was written by the pharmaceutical companies. Let me give the Members an example of why I say that. Two days ago, Secretary Thompson and the two Senators that participated, the Democratic Senators, met with the Blue Dogs in this House; and in that meeting they were asked why there is specific language in this bill that prohibits the Secretary from negotiating cheaper prices for our senior citizens. And one of those seniors spoke up and said it is in there because PhRMA insisted that it be in there. Think of that. I hope the American people are paying attention, because this bill was written for and by the pharmaceutical companies and, sadly, my friends on the Republican side are supporting it, and they are going to have to live with it. I have gotten over 100 calls in my office today; only two of them have been in support of this flawed bill.”