[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18677]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  CLINTON-GORE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for giving me these 5 
minutes. I listened to Senator Gramm's attack on the Clinton-Gore 
prescription drug plan, the Democratic plan. I will tell you, it was 
very interesting because I just read an article in one of the 
newspapers. I think it was in The Hill. It is an article by 
Representative Sherrod Brown. Representative Brown points to a 
confidential document--I will quote him--prepared for House 
Republicans. It found its way into the public realm. It wasn't news at 
the time, he says, but when you read it, it suggests that the 
Republicans go after the Democratic plan by calling it a one-size-fits-
all plan, ``a big government plan, especially a one-size-fits-all big 
government plan.''
  As I listened to Senator Gramm, he uses those terms over and over 
again. Now it sort of makes sense as to why they have put out this 
strategy on how to attack this plan. I had to smile when I was 
listening to Senator Gramm because I thought, Is he attacking the 
Medicare program? The Medicare program is a program that covers 99 
percent of our seniors. I suppose he thinks that the one-size-fits-all 
big government plan--and I assume he feels that way because Governor 
Bush, in 4 years, wants to do away with the Medicare plan. So this is 
what is happening here.
  I want to share a couple of charts that show the differences between 
the two plans. This is amazing. Also, they say it is a forced plan when 
it is voluntary. Vice President Gore has been very clear that the plan 
is a voluntary plan. Seniors can take it if they want. So here you have 
the Democratic plan, which is affordable for all seniors. It is part of 
Medicare and it is voluntary. It has a defined benefit, and it gives 
bargaining power to seniors so that the cost of the drugs would go 
down.
  The House Republican bill has no assistance to seniors with incomes 
over $12,500. So that leaves out most seniors. It is private insurance, 
not Medicare. Insurers say they won't offer it. We have proof of that 
and we have quotes. An insurer can modify or drop benefits year to 
year. Seniors may lose access to local pharmacies or drugs. There is no 
guarantee of better prices. Let's see the comments about the Bush-
Republican plan--the GOP prescription drug plan by health insurers.

       We continue to believe the concept of the so-called drug-
     only private insurance simply would not work in practice.

  That is Charles Kahn, President of the Health Insurance Association 
of America.
  Let's look at other comments of health insurers on the GOP plan 
endorsed by Senator Gramm and Governor Bush.

       Private drug insurance policies are doomed from the start. 
     The idea sounds good, but it cannot succeed in the real 
     world. I don't know of an insurance company that would offer 
     a drug-only policy like that or even consider it.

  Charles Kahn, President of the Health Insurance Association of 
America.
  Health insurers tell us that the Bush Republican plan is doomed 
because no insurance companies are going to do it.
  Here is Cecil Bykerk, Executive Vice President of the Mutual of Omaha 
companies, who says:

       I am convinced that stand-alone drug policies won't work.

  You have a real plan by Al Gore for voluntary benefits under 
Medicare--a program that is revered by seniors. The fact is that the 
Republican plan, by the very companies that are making life miserable 
for seniors--HMOs, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies--
is a complete sham.
  Things are getting hot around here. It is ``happy season.'' It is 
political season. I think we have to get back to reality.
  Let's realize that the words used by my friend, Senator Gramm from 
Texas, come straight out of the Republican campaign strategy book--call 
it big government, call it one size fits all; if you don't like the 
Medicare program, then you ought to support Governor Bush's plan 
because in 4 years he does away with Medicare.
  Let's take a look at this one more time.
  The Senate Democratic bill, which is essentially the Gore plan, is 
affordable for all seniors. It is voluntary. It will work.
  The House Republican plan and the one that is discussed by Phil Gramm 
is a sham. The insurance companies say they can't do it.
  Thank you very much. I thank my colleague from Florida for allowing 
me to go ahead.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida is recognized.

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