[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP'S POSITION ON TOBACCO AND MANAGED CARE: DO 
                                NOTHING

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, working families in America have been told 
that soon the Republican leadership of the House will unveil proposals 
to address the crises of teen smoking and managed care. I do not know 
why America and the press have to wait for some grand unveiling. If my 
colleagues want to know what the Republican leadership's position is on 
tobacco and managed care, just read the position papers of the tobacco 
companies and the insurance industry. If my colleagues want to see the 
tobacco policies of Newt Gingrich, just turn on TV and they will see 
$50 million worth of tobacco ads which the Speaker fully endorses.
  Any new legislation Republicans will lamely attempt to pass off as 
responsible domestic policy has the stamp of approval of big tobacco 
and the wealthy insurance industry, which means that it will do 
nothing.
  The gentleman from Georgia (Speaker Gingrich) and the Republican 
leadership are so dependent upon special-interest money, all they 
manage to do is ratify the status quo. Tobacco companies will still be 
allowed to peddle their poison to our kids, and American working 
families will still be trapped in inadequate health care plans.

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