[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 78 (Thursday, May 11, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4798-H4799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MEDICARE CUTS PAY FOR TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY

  (Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
   [[Page H4799]] Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans have 
finally unveiled their budget proposal. And as expected, the news is 
not good for our senior citizens.
  House Republicans returned from their party conference last week 
united by a plan to cut Medicare in order to pay for their $345 billion 
tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. Under this proposal, 37 million 
seniors will lose $900 a year while a very lucky 1.1 million 
taxpayers--those making more than $230,000 a year--will enjoy a $20,000 
bonus.
  When President Clinton came to office, the Medicare Trust Fund was 
due to run out of funds in 1999. Through tough actions that this 
administration passed, and every Republican opposed, the trust fund was 
strengthened for an additional 3 years. The President then proposed a 
highly detailed health care reform proposal that would have 
significantly strengthened the Medicare Trust Fund, and again was 
opposed by most Republicans.
  Since last year's election, the President has made clear that he 
still wants to work on Medicare cost issues with the Republicans, but 
that it has to be in the context of real health care reform that 
protects the integrity of the program, expands coverage, and protects 
choice as well as quality and affordability. No responsible person 
should stand by and allow Medicare to be used as a cover to pay for tax 
cuts for the wealthy and, in doing so, break our historic contract with 
the senior citizens.


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