U.S. REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE.

Original Source: Political Transcript Wire

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE, AS RELEASED BY REPRESENTATIVE PELOSI'S OFFICE

NOVEMBER 20, 2003

SPEAKER: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) HOUSE MINORITY LEADER

[*] PELOSI: Good afternoon. In the next few days, possibly as early as tomorrow, the Congress will make a critical decision that will affect all Americans. This issue is so vital to seniors that so many of them came to Washington yesterday to a rally to save Medicare. Some have stayed and volunteered to be in our war room today to help us save Medicare. They know that this vote is about nothing less than the future of Medicare itself, a trusted program that has been trusted and cherished by our parents, and in some cases, our grandparents, for nearly 40 years.

This Republican bill, the product of an unfair partisan process that excluded House Democrats from the discussions, prohibits the government from negotiating lower prices, puts profits for big drug companies over seniors, and privatizes Medicare by pushing seniors into HMOs.

Democrats want to help with the rising cost of prescription drugs. We are committed to providing a defined, guaranteed, affordable prescription drug benefit under Medicare. The conference report -- not that we have seen it yet. Has anyone seen it since the votes went on?

QUESTION: It's now on the Web site.

PELOSI: It finally has gone on the Web site. The Republican conference report puts the special interests of HMOs and pharmaceutical companies before the interests of America's families. The Republican bill does nothing to reduce drug costs. It specifically prohibits the federal government from negotiating lower prices and doesn't allow for the reimportation of drugs. The Republican bill leaves many seniors and disabled Americans worse off than before, forcing them into HMOs.

However, until a perfunctory meeting this afternoon to rubberstamp the bill, Democrats have not been allowed in the conference because we have been clear: we want to strengthen Medicare by adding a drug benefit that will save money and preserve the choices that matter.

The American people should know what this vote is all about. A vote for the Republican bill is not a vote for the beginning of a prescription drug benefit for seniors. A vote for the Republican bill is a vote for the beginning of the end of Medicare.

On another issue of critical concern, Senator Daschle and I sent a letter to President Bush today calling on him to end his silence and take a leadership role…