Happy Halloween To The Insurance Industry

Floor Speech

Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise today just weeks before Halloween to unmask the health insurance industry. At long last they've revealed themselves to the American people as profit-mongers and protectors of CEO salaries.

For months, the industry engaged in a game of pretense. They danced with the President, the Congress and the American people, pretending that they care about reform. Now we see the industry and their lobbyists for what they are: a little shop of horrors. They're so opposed to reform that they're making up their own data, manipulating the results, and writing a so-called independent report to threaten the American people with increased premiums.

Mr. Speaker, this industry is not interested in health care or reform. For them it's profits, profits, and more profits at the expense of millions of Americans. Enough.

We have one message for the insurance industry, its lobbyists and millionaire CEOs: with or without you, we will achieve quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all Americans, with choice. What they've done is proved the need for a robust public health insurance option for real competition, affordability and accountability for the industry.

Let me close by thanking the health insurance industry for delivering this gift that proves that they can't be trusted. It's time for the industry to turn in their costumes. Happy Halloween. We're on to you.

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