[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 99 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, for the last 30 years or so, most of the 
laws made by Congress assumed that Government was more efficient and 
more wise than any other institution in the country.
  For instance, Medicare was implemented in the 1960's and was designed 
to provide health care, primarily to the elderly, based on the idea 
that Government could best distribute health care resources.
  Since the creation, Medicare spending has increased dramatically. In 
fact, Medicare part B has increased 5,400 percent since the creation of 
the program. Medicare is in such bad shape that even members of the 
President's own Cabinet admit that Medicare will be bankrupt in 7 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, buried deep in the philosophy of programs like Medicare 
is the assumption that Government has all the answers. It does not. It 
is time for the American people, both Republicans and Democrats, to 
work together to save Medicare. It is not too late to preserve and 
protect it before it goes broke.

                          ____________________