[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, I think we all know that when it comes to 
television ratings, the Simpson trial is going to get a lot more 
viewers than the proceedings of the House of Representatives, but I 
hope that America will tune in today to this debate on the balanced 
budget amendment. It is critically important to every American who 
values Social Security and Medicare. What the Republicans are proposing 
is literally to make certain that Social Security will be vulnerable to 
cuts for years to come. They will not tell you, but I think the facts 
bear us out.
  They are going to call for a 30-percent cut in Medicare as a result 
of today's debate, and senior citizens will pay more out of pocket, 
have fewer services, and we will see hospitals closing across America.
  These are facts the Republicans do not want to disclose but they are 
simple facts that are inevitable conclusions from where they stand. We 
should not be surprised.
  Speaker Newt Gingrich wrote in USA Today in 1987, ``It's time to 
replace Social Security.''
  It is no priority for the Republicans, but it is a priority for 
America to protect our senior citizens, to protect Social Security and 
to protect Medicare.

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