[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 29 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Pages 1391-1392]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters in Des Moines

July 16, 1999

Patients' Bill of Rights Legislation

    Q. Mr. President, do you have any reaction to Senator Lott's 
comments----
    The President. I can understand why he'd be uncomfortable about what 
he did. He denied the American people the right to the patient 
protections he has. So they feel uncomfortable. But it's not too late; 
they can still change their position. They ought to think about--it's 
not a matter of name calling. Their budget office told him it would only 
cost $2 a month premium. They've ignored their own budget people; 
they've now ignored everybody, and they basically signed up with the 
health insurance companies against all the doctors and all the nurses 
and all the patients in America and denied other

[[Page 1392]]

people what those of us in the Federal Government enjoy. I don't think 
it's right. But it's not too late to do right.

Note: The exchange began at approximately 3 p.m. at Amos Hiatt Middle 
School. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.