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June 20, 2001

In Their Own Words:

Democrats' Goal Is Government-Run Health Care

Why do Democrats want to sue employers who voluntarily provide health benefits? Why do they want to override state health insurance laws?

Their trial lawyer friends see a ticket to fat city. But the left-wing ideologues in the Democrat party know that exposing employers to lawsuits will help destroy the private health insurance market and make it easier for them to usher in their ultimate goal: government-run health care.

"Why don't we first pass that consumer protection legislation, and then we will move on and we can talk about universal coverage?"

Senator Paul Wellstone
on the floor of the U.S. Senate,
June 20, 2001 (unofficial transcript)

"I was deeply involved in [the Clinton Health Plan], and although we were not successful, the goal was one that I think we should still keep at the forefront of our minds and hearts . . ."

Senator Hillary Clinton
Congressional Record (S6435)
June 19, 2001

"We will move toward universal health coverage, step by step, starting with all children."

Vice President Al Gore
August 17, 2000

"Al Gore is the only candidate committed to moving this country step-by-step to universal health, starting by covering every child by the year 2004."

Senator Ted Kennedy
August 15, 2000

"Now, what I tried before won't work. Maybe we can do [the Clinton health plan] in another way. That's what we've tried to do, a step at a time, until we finish this."

President Bill Clinton
September 15, 1997

"We're going to get this done, and we're going to keep coming back at it. If we have a big sweep for the Democrats in the House and the Senate, we'll get single payer."

Senator Ted Kennedy
October 21, 1996

"I think that basic model is still the right model."

Hillary Clinton
White House Bulletin, July 9, 1996

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