--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of…" description: "\"Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have considered it politically risky to offer a plan to fix America's broken health care system. The A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/ron-wyden-8512_aisle_since-1994-lawmakers-on-both-sides-of-th_2427397.png" --- # Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have… ![“Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have considered it politically risky to offer a plan to fix America's broken health care system. The American public, though, has paid the price for this silence as health care costs skyrocketed, millions went uninsured, and millions more grappled…” quote by Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/ron-wyden-8512_aisle_since-1994-lawmakers-on-both-sides-of-th_2427397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/ron-wyden-8512_aisle_since-1994-lawmakers-on-both-sides-of-th_2427397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/ron-wyden-8512_aisle_since-1994-lawmakers-on-both-sides-of-th_2427397.png) > “Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have considered it politically risky to offer a plan to fix America's broken health care system. The American public, though, has paid the price for this silence as health care costs skyrocketed, millions went uninsured, and millions more grappled with financial insecurity and hardship.” [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political risk hinders health reform, causing rising costs and insecurity for citizens. **In simple terms:** Political fear blocks health care fixes, hurting people. Key Takeaway Advocate for bold, bipartisan health policy. Themes politics healthcare economics public policy inequality Mood concerned urgent Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - legislative debates - budget negotiations - public advocacy - grassroots campaigns Key Concepts policy inertia risk aversion systemic cost escalation Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders overcome partisan fear? - What incentives could align stakeholders? A Different Perspective Reform may face entrenched interests and lobbying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aisle/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Broken Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-health-235812/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Financial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial/) [Fix America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fix-america-235810/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Health care costs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care-costs/) [Health care system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care-system/) [Insecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurity/) [Lawmakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawmakers/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Uninsured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uninsured/) [Uninsured Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uninsured-millions-235809/) [Went Uninsured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-uninsured-235811/) ## Related quotes > [It is my judgment that had I spent the first two years trying to get a single-payer system, all those folks who now have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-is-my-judgment-that-had-i-spent-the-first-two-years-trying-to-get/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think we can see how blessed we are in America to have access to the kind of health care we do if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-think-we-can-see-how-blessed-we-are-in-america-to-have-access-to/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I think we have to repair our broken health care system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-donovan/i-think-we-have-to-repair-our-broken-health-care-system/) [Dan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-donovan/) > [I'm trained as a medical doctor - that's my field: I've been practicing long enough to see how extremely broken our health care system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-m-trained-as-a-medical-doctor-that-s-my-field-i-ve-been-practicing/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Who cares what Donald Trump tweeted, you know, on some Thursday night, if we fix America's big problems?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/who-cares-what-donald-trump-tweeted-you-know-on-some-thursday-night/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I don't think there could've been a pitch as crass as Trump's 'I can fix America because I'm rich' without that groundwork laid by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/i-don-t-think-there-could-ve-been-a-pitch-as-crass-as-trump-s-i-can/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Let's move forward and fix America's problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-s-move-forward-and-fix-america-s-problems/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“Somebody needs to fix America.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-deck/somebody-needs-to-fix-america/) [Jeff Deck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-deck/) > [Without Free Choice Vouchers, there is little in the health reform law that discourages employers from increasingly passing the burden of health care costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/without-free-choice-vouchers-there-is-little-in-the-health-reform-law/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Insure the uninsured. Effect of Obamacare to date: Uninsure the insured,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/insure-the-uninsured-effect-of-obamacare-to-date-uninsure-the-insured/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [But no conversation between doctor and patient can magically turn an uninsured patient into an insured one. Doctors are just as helpless as patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/but-no-conversation-between-doctor-and-patient-can-magically-turn-an/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [If you're under 26, you can stay on your parents' plan. You can go back to school or get extra training without fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-sebelius/if-you-re-under-26-you-can-stay-on-your-parents-plan-you-can-go-back/) [Kathleen Sebelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-sebelius/) > [The number of those 19 to 25 with private insurance increased from 51 to 55.8 percent, and the percentage of uninsured fell from 33.9…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-singletary/the-number-of-those-19-to-25-with-private-insurance-increased-from-51/) [Michelle Singletary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-singletary/) > [If there is a risk in a bank, our first question should be 'Okay, what are you in the bank going to do about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroen-dijsselbloem/if-there-is-a-risk-in-a-bank-our-first-question-should-be-okay-what/) [Jeroen Dijsselbloem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeroen-dijsselbloem/) > [I think that we have a number of different health care challenges in our country, and certainly addressing the uninsured is one, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/i-think-that-we-have-a-number-of-different-health-care-challenges-in/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) ## More by Ron Wyden > [When the Veterans Affairs Department implemented a program to provide home-based health care to veterans with multiple chronic conditions - many of the system's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/when-the-veterans-affairs-department-implemented-a-program-to-provide/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Police departments no longer have to pay overtime or divert resources from other projects to find out where an individual goes - all they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/police-departments-no-longer-have-to-pay-overtime-or-divert-resources/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Even under the best of circumstances, the road back from war is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the-road-back-from-war-is/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Trade wars aren't started by countries appealing to respected, independent trade authorities. Rather, trade wars begin when one country decides to violate international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/trade-wars-aren-t-started-by-countries-appealing-to-respected/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Trade wars arent started by countries appealing to respected, independent trade authorities. Rather, trade wars begin when one country decides to violate international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/trade-wars-arent-started-by-countries-appealing-to-respected/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [If China is helping its domestic industries charge an artificially low price for solar panels and other environmental goods, then China is violating international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/if-china-is-helping-its-domestic-industries-charge-an-artificially/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [With a host of proposals on the table and a President examining new ideas for health reform, we have an obligation to give real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/with-a-host-of-proposals-on-the-table-and-a-president-examining-new/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [I agree with just about everyone in the reform debate when they say 'If you like what you have, you should be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/i-agree-with-just-about-everyone-in-the-reform-debate-when-they-say/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [If we are going to have a health care program that works for all Americans, we are going to have to get beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/if-we-are-going-to-have-a-health-care-program-that-works-for-all/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [With the loss of Free Choice Vouchers, hundreds of thousands of workers will now be forced to choose between their employers' unaffordable insurance or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/with-the-loss-of-free-choice-vouchers-hundreds-of-thousands-of/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Part of what we're trying to do is lay out what really happened. For example, I've been trying to get across that the intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/part-of-what-we-re-trying-to-do-is-lay-out-what-really-happened-for/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [I don't care who you love. If you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn't have to hide who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/i-don-t-care-who-you-love-if-you-love-this-country-enough-to-risk/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [How can it be, in a country as strong and rich as this one, that tens of thousands of Americans who need legal representation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/how-can-it-be-in-a-country-as-strong-and-rich-as-this-one-that-tens/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [The government's collection authority, under the Patriot Act, is basically limitless. They can get the medical records and financial records, gun purchase records. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/the-government-s-collection-authority-under-the-patriot-act-is/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Pay-for-procedure or fee-for-service reimbursement rewards doctors and hospitals for volume - not keeping patients healthy or being efficiency. Pay-for-Performance is clearly one tool that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/pay-for-procedure-or-fee-for-service-reimbursement-rewards-doctors/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) [Explore all 80 Ron Wyden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) ## More Aisle quotes > [The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-nation-as-you-know-is-at-a-critical-point-at-a-time-like-this-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [It has been said that a bride's attitude towards her betrothed can be summed up in three words: Aisle. Alter. Hymn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-muir/it-has-been-said-that-a-bride-s-attitude-towards-her-betrothed-can-be/) [Frank Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-muir/) > [I see the world as a knowledge hardware story, and every day I'm just walking through the aisles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-see-the-world-as-a-knowledge-hardware-story-and-every-day-i-m-just/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [There is a bunch of racism in America, and sadly, most of it's on the left side of the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-a-bunch-of-racism-in-america-and-sadly-most-of-it-s-on-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Let that get you up in the morning and put the light in your eyes. I'm telling you, it makes you a better husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/let-that-get-you-up-in-the-morning-and-put-the-light-in-your-eyes-i-m/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Heaven is not a place for those who are afraid of hell; it’s a place for those who love God. You can scare people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/heaven-is-not-a-place-for-those-who-are-afraid-of-hell-it-s-a-place/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Every presidential candidate for decades has released his tax returns, and I've released 33 years of my tax returns. The American people deserve to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/every-presidential-candidate-for-decades-has-released-his-tax-returns/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'll never forget that first night with the team. Going to the ballpark on the bus was the hardest 30 minutes of my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/i-ll-never-forget-that-first-night-with-the-team-going-to-the/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [ In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine \[of regeneration\] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one's hand, walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-modern-day-evangelism-this-precious-doctrine-of-regeneration-has/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [I've had diseases that lasted longer than my marriages. You know you are in a bad marriage if you walk down the aisle thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-carter/i-ve-had-diseases-that-lasted-longer-than-my-marriages-you-know-you/) [Nell Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-carter/) > [I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-want-to-be-here-for-a-long-time-so-i-am-going-to-do-everything-i/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [There are smart people on our side of the aisle who have known as early as I did who Obama was and should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-smart-people-on-our-side-of-the-aisle-who-have-known-as/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-am-all-in-favor-of-pay-equity-for-women-but-this-kind-of/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think that people have to reward those individuals who are prepared to work across the political aisle. I don't see any other way;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-think-that-people-have-to-reward-those-individuals-who-are-prepared/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) [Browse all 203 Aisle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aisle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since 1994, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have considered it politically risky to offer a plan to fix America's broken health care system. 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