[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     PRESERVE MEDICARE AND PROVIDE COVERAGE TO UNINSURED AMERICANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from California [Mr. Stark] is 
recognized during morning business for 4 minutes.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, Republicans talking about saving Medicare 
remind me of the man who murdered his parents and begged for mercy as 
an orphan.
  They are making a blatant attempt to distract the public from a tax 
bill that takes $87 billion out of the Medicare Part A Trust Fund over 
the next 10 years and gives it to the rich. And Republicans are crying 
crocodile tears about the trust fund being in danger?
  ``Hello, Earth to Republicans: Your hypocrisy is showing.''
  I urge Republicans to reread their views on last year's health reform 
bill. In that bill, Democrats saved the Medicare Trust Fund by getting 
all health spending under control. The billions we saved in Medicare 
helped the uninsured, expanded Medicare benefits and provided a 
prescription drug benefit for everyone. Democrats used Medicare savings 
to improve the entire health care system.
  Where were the Republicans? They voted against any and all Medicare 
savings. In their dissent 10 months ago, they said ``reimbursement 
levels * * * have reached potentially disastrous levels'' and 
``additional massive cuts in reimbursement to providers * * * will 
reduce the quality of care for the Nation's elderly.''
  Now the militant radical right wants to cut three or four times more 
than we did. How can they now say it will not hurt quality?
  Newt can't reform the system with more managed care and vouchers. I 
rather resent Republicans suggesting that my mother and the Nation's 
seniors are either senile or so stupid that they will not see through 
his double-talk.
  My mother knows that managed care costs more and means less choice of 
doctors and hospitals. My mother knows that Republican vouchers to buy 
private insurance will never be worth enough to pay for her health 
care. Newt's plan to push America's seniors into plans with less 
choice--all the while saying he gives them more choice--is a dog that 
just will not hunt.
  Republicans intend to disrupt people's health plans, force them into 
managed care, and they know it will save little or nothing. Last week, 
CBO said that Medicare spends more for HOMO enrollees than had they 
remained in the fee-for-service sector--about 5.7 percent more. Until 
you Republicans know more about how to pay for seniors in managed care, 
you are just whistling in the dark, and playing fast and loose with a 
sacred trust.
  We Democrats have always worked with responsible Republicans on ways 
to improve Medicare and reform the entire health care system. But $300 
billion in Medicare cuts for the sake of tax cuts for the rich will 
destroy not only Medicare, but the entire U.S. health care system.
  We must not only preserve Medicare, but we must provide coverage to 
47 million Americans who are today without coverage. You Republicans 
proved your political dominance over the House in the past 4 months. 
Now, why not show us you stand for something besides insurance company 
profits and tax cuts for the very rich. You are in complete control of 
this Congress and must be judged by your ability to legislate in the 
best interests of all Americans--not just white, rich, suburban 
radicals.
  So let us get together and fix the ``break'' the way it ought to be 
fixed, with universal coverage and reform for all Americans.


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