[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 83 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  REQUIRING MEDICARE TRUST FUND TRUSTEES TO REPORT CERTAIN FINANCIAL 
                            RECOMMENDATIONS

                                 ______


                               speech of

                         HON. RONALD D. COLEMAN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 1995
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1590, a 
bill to require the Trustees of the Medicare Trust Fund to report 
recommendations on resolving projected financial imbalances in the 
Medicare Trust Fund. I want to see the initiation of genuine efforts to 
save the trust fund, and to overhaul our health care system. This bill 
is merely a fig leaf for the Republican budget plan of providing tax 
cuts for the wealthy.
  I think that the Republicans are entitled to propose tax cuts. I 
think that they are entitled to propose cuts in programs to pay for 
their tax cuts. But I do not see any reason that they should then be 
entitled to pass the buck when it comes to actually achieving those 
cuts.
  If they want to provide billions of dollars in tax cuts for the 
wealthy, that is their prerogative. But they need to demonstrate the 
courage of their convictions. They need to illustrate their proposed 
cuts in Medicare by telling health care providers that their 
reimbursement rates will fall. They need to be able to look the elderly 
in the face and tell them that their out-of-pocket costs are going to 
increase $1,060 by the year 2002.
  Or they need to drop the idea of providing a massive tax cut to the 
wealthy. If they are willing to do this, I think we would all be 
willing to search for ways to extend the longevity and the viability of 
the Medicare trust fund.
  H.R. 1590 was rushed through Committee without hearings or public 
input. No effort was made to garner bipartisan support, and I will not 
support the bill now. I hope that the next time my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle introduce the issue of reforming the Medicare 
Trust Fund, they do so with greater integrity of purpose. This bill 
should not be tied to their tax package for the wealthy. The issue is 
too important.


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