2010 IL Senate Debates: on Health Care

Alexi Giannoulias: Reform it and fix it: negotiate drug rates for Medicare

KIRK: That's right.

Q: Mr. Giannoulias, will stand by health care reform as passed by the Congress?

GIANNOULIAS: Look, the health care bill was far from a perfect vehicle. That being said, I think it did some important things that the congressman wants to repeal. The denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, making sure that kids in between college and their first job have health care. And I think morally we shouldn't have 51 million Americans without affordable, basic health care. But again, there's a lot more to be done. I would have loved to have seen a provision there to negotiate drug rates for Medicare the way that the VA does.

KIRK: By the way, coverage of pre-existing conditions was in our bill.

GIANNOULIAS: The difference is he wants to repeal it, I want to reform it and fix it and make sure that it works for small businesses and their families.

Mark Kirk: Repeal Obamacare, then offer a better alternative

KIRK: That's right. We have to be the party of better. We just can't be the party of no. So we put together the Republican alternative which I introduced into Congress, 400 pages. It was not allowed for a debate, or even discussion or a vote. But it did three big things: first, the Medical Rights Act that says Congress should make no law interfering with the decisions you made with your doctor. Second, lawsuit reform which was completely skipped and needs to be in there. And third, Congress should defend your right to buy health insurance from any state in the union if you find the plan less expensive to cover your families.

Q: All right. But you will try to repeal it?

KIRK: Yes.