Speaker Urges Senate Democrats to Stop Obstructing Measures to Help America's 45 Million Uninsured

Release Date: 8/26/2004

To: National Desk

Contact: John Feehery or Pete Jeffries, 202-225-2800, both of the Office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today made the following statement:

"While we already have taken a much-needed step to help control rising medical costs by enacting Health Savings Accounts, today's report of a million and a half more uninsured Americans illustrates a willing Congress still has work to do.

"I call on obstructionist Democrats in the Senate to drop their silent filibuster of demanding sixty votes and instead move forward with a simple up-or-down vote on Medical Liability Reform and Association Health Plans. Both of these common-sense measures to hold down health care costs already have passed the House and simply await Senate approval.

"Senators John Kerry and John Edwards should willingly stand up to the Democrat Party's special interests, stop playing politics with the lives of these 45-million Americans, and do the right thing to hold down health care costs before it's too late. In fact, they should be the ones pushing for a simple majority vote in the Senate on Medical Liability Reform and Association Health Plans if they truly want to make a statement about their vision for the future."