[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REPUBLICANS BREAK CONTRACT WITH SENIORS

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, there is a loud shattering sound all over 
Capitol Hill today as the Republicans rush to break our Nation's 
historic contract with its senior citizens.
  House Republicans today make it official: They want to cut Medicare 
and Medicaid by $464 billion in order to pay for a tax cut for the 
wealthiest Americans.
  And now they have added a new ingredient to this sickening stew. Now 
House Republicans want to redefine the Consumer Price Index and lower 
cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients. So much for 
their promise to keep Social Security off the table.
  In short, the Republican plan squeezes seniors from both ends. 
Seniors would have to pay more for health care, and they would be less 
able to afford that increase because they would get a smaller Social 
Security COLA.
  Altogether, this plan would cost 37 million seniors $900 more a year 
so a lucky 1.1 million of the wealthiest taxpayers can enjoy a $20,000 
bonus.
  The Republican plan does not save Medicare. Instead it uses Medicare 
as a piggybank for tax cuts we cannot afford and do not need.




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