[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 92 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



   MEDICARE CUTS TO MISSOURI RURAL HOSPITALS PAY FOR TAX BREAKS FOR 
                                WEALTHY

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, it is flimflam time in the U.S. House of 
Representatives again. What do I mean by that? When we passed the 
budget, the Republican budget calls for huge cuts in Medicare in order 
to give tax breaks for the wealthy.
  But when the Republican Members went back home, they said, ``No, 
we're not making big cuts in Medicare. We're strengthening Medicare. 
We're improving Medicare.''
  Well, I went home and I talked to my hospital administrators, three 
of them, including one in my hometown. On Friday, I will be visiting 
three more rural hospitals.
  What did they say? They did not say that Republican budget cuts in 
Medicare will improve Medicare, will strengthen Medicare. No. In my 
regional hospital at Hannibal, MO, by the year 2002, a loss of $1.5 
million a year in cuts--$1.5 million jeopardizes my hospital.
  What about Moberly Regional, $1 million in lost revenue. Audrain 
County Medicare, $1 million in lost revenue, jeopardizing rural 
hospital care with those Medicare cuts to give tax breaks for the 
wealthy.


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