I get to work at about 7:30 or 8 unless I have a breakfast meeting. Donna Shalala More Quotes by Donna Shalala More Quotes From Donna Shalala We have to mainstream everybody. No matter what their circumstances when they were growing up. Part of that is knowing that after they're finished with school, everybody in this country gets up and goes to work. Donna Shalala growing-up country school What you really remember at the beginning was that you have to throw a budget together. We made some terrible mistakes at the beginning in my own budget that took us at least a year to catch up on. Donna Shalala together mistake years I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been present in American society. Donna Shalala race fun sex Every year, I am reminded of the kids who aren't in the freshman class and aren't graduating. I remember every single one of them. That is the worst of times for me, to see the future snuffed out. Donna Shalala class kids years I have to admit, in January and February I was in an absolute fuzz. I had no one on board. It wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing, but we didn't have all the pieces put together. Donna Shalala pieces boards together We need to drive down requirements for the schools. In the 19th century, we increased the quality of the schools by higher education saying, 'You can't come in unless you have these skills, unless you've taken these courses.' We did that in Wisconsin when I was there, it helped to transform the secondary school system. Donna Shalala skills taken school I compensate for big risks by always doing my homework and being well-prepared. I can take on larger risks by reducing the overall risk. Donna Shalala homework risk adventure Asking the government to help you for short periods of time is different than asking the government to take care of you for the rest of your life. Donna Shalala government different life We have not yet concluded that needle-exchange programs do not encourage drug use. Donna Shalala drug-use program encouragement Sex education has to do with what's in people's head. Donna Shalala education sex people I bring other constituencies - I also have ties to minority communities. And obviously, to the world of world-class research universities. So I can bring some constituencies that I'm used to working with. Donna Shalala community ties class You don't want to destroy the energy that comes out of a campaign. Donna Shalala campaigns energy want By putting people around me who will calm me down and slow me down and make sure I work through an issue. Donna Shalala down-and issues people It's her first vote that puts in place leaders, no matter what her positions are. They have disrespected Miami for too long a period of time, we've had people that were somewhat moderate representing South Florida. All of them hit a brick wall with their ideas, and that's disrespecting the people of Miami. ... We should not reinforce that by sending someone up that's going to vote for that leadership. Donna Shalala top-news ' Medicare for all' is not a bad idea. I ran the Medicare program, what I have said is we have to improve the Medicare program before we start giving it to all. It has no long term care. It has no home health care. It has no dental benefits. What you want is a comprehensive plan. In fact, Medicaid is more comprehensive than Medicare is. Donna Shalala top-news The other thing I want to point out, is there are a lot of people in this country that have very good health insurance from their employer. There are a lot of unions. They have negotiated that health insurance that have given up salaries for that health insurance, so, don't read this as left and right. Read it as the complexity to get to the goal we want, which is universal health care. Donna Shalala top-news From the inside, I've been able to communicate with people and have always had someone with me if I need detailed translation, i'm going to operate in Washington in English. Donna Shalala top-news Latino voters want what everybody else wants. They want good education for their children. They want to make sure that they have good jobs, i think we have to be careful about understanding people's lives. Donna Shalala top-news I know how to question cabinet officers. I have the skill set to get things done. Donna Shalala top-news I have always hired people of different ages. Young people and older people. People in their 70s and in their 20s. People who are fully capable of talking back to me. Donna Shalala back me talking people