Political Quotes

“I rise to discuss a recess appointment made last week when many of us were traveling to visit with constituents to talk about the issues of the day. During that time, I was in Wyoming, and one of the main issues brought up at senior centers was the appointment by the President of Dr. Donald Berwick to be the head of Medicare and Medicaid. I heard the concerns of these folks because of statements Dr. Berwick had made about the British health care system and his love of the National Health Service in England. They are concerned as to how this gentleman, who has taken positions and made a number of statements, would run Medicare and Medicaid. Specifically, they had concerns because they had heard his statement: The decision is not whether or not we will ration. The decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open. Seniors around the State were concerned about what this means. Then to hear that the President made a decision to do a recess appointment of this very individual, without hearings in the Congress, without an opportunity for the American people to hear specifically his response to questions we might have--is this what the American people want? Absolutely not. We have a President who campaigned on a pledge of accountability and transparency. To me, this makes a mockery of that pledge because this nominee will not have to answer questions about statements he has made.”