[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           WHAT'S THE HURRY?

  (Mr. WALSH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, to the leadership of the House, my message 
today is quite simple. Take a step back, hold off on your plans to 
bring the Clinton-Gephart bill to the floor next week, and instead 
provide each Member of this House with a detailed summary of your bill. 
Then allow us to return to our districts and discuss the legislation 
with our constituents. That is what the American people want, and 
everyone in this Chamber knows it.
  If you try playing hard ball politics by jamming this down the 
throats of House Members without their knowing the complete content of 
the bill, you will do tremendous damage to those who follow your path. 
The public will not stand for it.
  This issue is not Social Security, and for those simplistic enough to 
believe that line, you had better sign up to a fast economics course. 
The issues are deep and complex. If you have never tracked a Medicare 
claim or followed a constituent's case dealing with long-term care, I 
suggest you talk to your office caseworkers handling health care 
problems. The lack of factual knowledge in dealing with this issue is 
appalling. You cannot correct something if you do not understand it.
  Instead of producing a strong foundation on which to build real 
health care reform, we see a Trojan Horse being readied for a sneak 
attack. This is no way to legislate, and shame on those who attempt 
such folly.

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