[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[June 28, 2000]
[Page 1336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on House of Representatives Action on Private Insurance 
Prescription Coverage Legislation
June 28, 2000

    Tonight, in a partisan vote, the Republican leadership succeeded in 
passing a flawed, unworkable private insurance prescription benefit that 
provides more political cover than insurance coverage for our Nation's 
seniors. If this unworkable private prescription drug benefit passes the 
Congress, I will veto it. The legislation was designed to benefit the 
companies who make prescription drugs, not the older Americans and 
people with disabilities who need to take them. It puts special 
interests above the public interests. I urge the Congress to work across 
party lines and develop a bipartisan bill that ensures an affordable, 
available, and meaningful Medicare prescription drug benefit option for 
all seniors.