Statement of the Honorable John D. Dingell on tbe Budget Reconciliation Conference Report

Statement of the Honorable John D. Dingell on tbe Budget Reconciliation Conference Report

Washington, DC - Rep. John D. Dingell (MI-15), the longest serving Member of the House of Representatives, made the following remarks today on the House floor before today's vote on the budget reconciliation conference report. The House narrowly passed the bill, 216-214, this afternoon.

"Mr. Speaker, my colleagues should recall there was no open conference on this important legislation. Instead my Republican colleagues met behind closed doors to negotiate an agreement among themselves and, apparently, lobbyist friends. It was brought to the Floor in the dead of night, and a couple of hours later Members voted on it sight unseen.

"The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) now confirms what went on behind those closed doors. Special interests and their lobbyists who were well represented won - everyone else was excluded and lost.

"The conferees had very important decisions to make in health care because the House and Senate took very different approaches to the issue. The Senate elected not to harm Medicaid beneficiaries, instead cutting overpayments to Medicare HMOs and reducing payments to drug companies. Our House Republican colleagues instead chose to raise costs and cut services to working families, the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and children covered by Medicaid.

"Here are the specifics: The Senate bill cut $36 billion in overpayments to the HMOs in Medicare. That included $26 billion in savings by more accurately calculating their payments. But the negotiators rewrote the provision to save just $4 billion, providing a $22 billion windfall to the HMOs.

"The Senate bill also eliminated a $10 billion slush fund designed to entice HMOs to participate in the prescription drug program. The Republican conferees dropped this provision, providing another $10 billion gift to the HMOs for a total of $32 billion.

"Finally, the Senate included a provision designed to get the best prices for Medicaid by increasing rebates from drug companies for a nearly $10 billion saving. That provision was dropped.

"Instead our Republican colleagues went after the people who couldn't afford to be in that room - the Medicaid beneficiaries. Through a combination of benefit reductions, increased copayments and premiums, along with rules making it harder for the elderly to gain access to nursing homes, they saved $25 billion.

"According to CBO, about 13 million Medicaid enrollees will pay more to see their doctor. CBO reports 80 percent of the savings from this provision will come from decreased use of services. So this bill will be adding to the rolls of the uninsured - contrary to the goal of expanding coverage touted by President Bush last night.

"This bill is Exhibit A for special interests and lobbyists writing legislation behind closed doors at the expense of the ordinary citizen. Vote ‘no.'"

http://www.house.gov/dingell/documents/press_releases/109th_Session2/02-01-06.htm