[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 117 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               CLINTON-GEPHARDT: BAD MEDICINE FOR SENIORS

  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute, and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, seniors in my district have been outspoken 
critics of the AARP's recent endorsement of the Clinton-Gephardt health 
bill. Like most Americans, they do not like the idea of giving 
Government greater control over their health decisions and they are 
saying so loud and clear. Seniors are right to rebel. For the Clinton-
Gephardt bill is worse for seniors than even the recent catastrophic 
health debacle.
  The bill would open up Medicare to a whole host of nonelderly 
persons--including noncitizen aliens. And it would limit total spending 
in the program--in effect, rationing care. Seniors' choices would also 
be restricted. They would be forced to pay for the new drug benefit, 
even if they have more generous coverage elsewhere. Under the Clinton-
Gephardt bill, seniors could also be forced out of the Medicare system 
altogether and into a State-run health plan.
  Very simply, the Clinton-Gephardt bill is bad medicine for America's 
seniors. For seniors' sake, we must reject it. That is what they are 
asking us to do.

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