Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, for a moment let's think of this bill as a blanket, a blanket of health care legislation that may be draped across America and its population in the coming years. Unfortunately, this blanket is woven not from all hands working together, but is the handiwork of strong-arm, political deal-making, and, perhaps most disheartening, a resistance to listen to the American people. Its cloth has been cut behind closed door, and its color is tinged by partisan hands. It is too short in some areas, and too long in others, woven to cover the winners and to leave out the losers. Once this blanket of legislation is laid out, those that huddle beneath it will find that it does not provide the real health care reform they need for their families. In fact, it will become a wall of government between them and their doctor. Its huge holes will not protect the cold wind of job loss, new taxes, government bureaucracy, and increased health care costs. And though we hear of coming patches in the future, in all likelihood they will be made of the same flimsy fabric of broken promises. All of America will feel the weight of this uncomfortable burden. The real cost of the $2.6 trillion bill will only increase in the future. States like mine, West Virginia, will feel the weight in huge budget shortfalls caused by millions of dollars in unfunded mandates. States must balance their budgets and will be forced to absorb the massive increase in Medicaid spending demanded by this bill.…”