Pelosi: Republicans Oppose Medicare, Offer No Guarantees in Prescription Drug Plan
June 27, 2002
Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Whip Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued the following statement on the floor of the House of Representatives late tonight, in strong opposition to an unfair rule proposed by the Republicans that prevents amendments or debate on a Democratic substitute to H.R. 4954, the Republican Prescription Drug Act. The rule was approved by a vote of 218 to 213, with Democrats unanimously opposed to it.
"When Medicare went into existence, there was a big fight over it. The Democrats wholeheartedly supported it; the Republicans opposed it.
They still oppose Medicare. Over the years, they have made statements to that effect. Newt Gingrich, when he was Speaker of the House, said that he would like to see Medicare, in his words, 'wither on the vine.' And the Republican Majority Leader, Dick Armey, said that Medicare should be 'no part of the free world.' And in the debate in the Rules Committee early this morning, Congressman John Linder referred to Medicare as a 'Soviet-style model' that the Democrats were proposing.
They didn't support it then, and they don't support it now. It's no wonder they have proposed this cruel hoax on America's seniors. To pretend they have a prescription drug benefit that is a guarantee is simply not true. They offer no guarantee, merely a suggestion.
The Republican bill does not contain any defined premiums or assurances that prescription drugs would be affordable. And in Nevada, the one state where such a program exists, the premium is $85 per month. Less than one-fifth of the estimated drug costs of Medicare beneficiaries over the next 10 years will be covered in this bill.
The Republican bill does not provide guaranteed access to the drugs seniors need, or access to their local pharmacies.
If we had been allowed to present a Democratic substitute, which this rule prevents, the substitute would have provided a guaranteed affordable prescription drug benefit for all seniors that would amount to an entitlement under Medicare.
Imagine a situation, my colleagues, where we could have prescription drug benefits for all of our seniors. Imagine the quality of life it would produce, and the costs savings to our budget.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker."