SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. RANGEL. Thank you, Chairman Levin.

Mr. Speaker, this bill has nothing to do with paying the doctors who work every day in giving medical care to Medicare patients. It has to do with destroying the Affordable Care Act for the 51st time.

I am certain that those who are listening to the debate and who know what is going on believe it is ridiculous to try to defeat a bill that has been signed into law, because they know that the Senate is not going to pass it, and they know--the Republicans, that is--that the President would veto it.

So why do they do it?

They do it because there is a small group of people in the Republican Party that doesn't mind politically dying. I don't mind their taking down the party if that is their intent, but they are taking down the Democrats and the reputations of the House of Representatives as well. Somewhere along the line, the Speaker has to do again what he has done before, and that is to say, ``Enough of this. We are not going to allow the wings of the Congress to be broken on one side just because some people want their way.''

So I assume that nobody in these districts has insurance problems. I assume that everyone is insured and is working in these districts in which they are trying to destroy the Affordable Care Act and that they don't have any preconditions that restrict them from getting health care. They all are working and they all are happy. I just hope that, one day before this year ends, the Republicans will come to their senses and will try to gain the respectability and the credibility that they once enjoyed.

I am a die-hard Democrat, but I don't want this country just to have one party. We do need two responsible parties in order to guide this Nation through its democratic process.

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