David Obey: “this is a bipartisan bill. It is a bipartisan rule. Both ought to be supported. The bill itself will pass overwhelmingly…”

“this is a bipartisan bill. It is a bipartisan rule. Both ought to be supported. The bill itself will pass overwhelmingly after the House is finished disposing of it. I want to congratulate all of those who had anything to do with putting it together, most especially the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha). Having said that, I cannot help but noting how ironic it is that on the same day that the House will be debating the bill that provides the resources to enable our military to defend this country and to take the battle to terrorists around the world, how ironic it is that this House on another bill coming up later today will not stand up for the very values that we are today buttressing by the funding that we are providing in this bill. What will happen today, in my view, on the rule on prescription drugs will demonstrate that the biggest threat to this democracy and the biggest threat to the average citizen just trying to get through the day and pay their bills, the biggest threat to them is not from any foreign power. The biggest threat is from some of their own representatives who will refuse to practice democracy here at home. We are shortly going to be considering a prescription drug bill which is of, by, and for the pharmaceutical industry. It is designed not to solve the problem of seniors who face mounting drug costs.”