[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 79 (Friday, May 12, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REPUBLICAN BUDGET DOES NOT CUT MEDICARE

  (Mr. HASTERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, for the last few days, liberal Democrats 
have taken to the floor to denounce so-called Medicare cuts.
  What cuts?
  Where are they?
  This chart clearly shows that under the House Republican budget, 
Medicare funding will increase.
  This year, we will spend over $150 billion on Medicare.
  This will not decrease.
  Let me be absolutely clear about this--Medicare funding will not 
decrease.
  Under the House Republican plan, Medicare spending will have 
increased to about $230 billion by the year 2002.
  Let me say that again--Medicare spending will be $230 billion in the 
year 2002. Now, if Medicare spending is $150 billion this year and $230 
billion seven years from now, that is an increase in Medicare spending. 
Where's the cut?
  Only in Washington could an increase be a cut.
  Well, the American people are tired of the old Washington accounting 
methods. Those methods are the very reason we have a $5 trillion debt.
  Republicans are committed to scrapping the old Washington accounting 
methods and replacing them with the truth, something not often seen 
around here.

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