[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                MEDICARE

  (Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of hot air 
from the liberal Democrats about Medicare. But when they talk about 
Medicare what they really mean is medi-scare. They don't really want to 
save Medicare from bankruptcy. All they want to do is scare people into 
voting for their party. For Democrats it is perfectly acceptable to let 
Medicare go bankrupt--just as long as they have a political issue it 
doesn't matter what the truth is.
  And the truth is that Medicare will be broke in 7 years if we don't 
take serious action right now. Republicans have not walked away from 
this issue.
  Unfortunately for the American people, liberal Democrats have used 
Medicare for their twisted scare tactics. You see, liberals can not win 
elections with the force of their superior ideas. The only strategy 
that works for liberals is fear and disinformation.
  But the American people are smarter than liberals would believe. They 
will not buy the scare tactics and they will not allow Medicare to go 
bankrupt. Mr. Speaker, later this month Medicare will turn 30 years 
old. The Medicare Trustees Board reports that unless something is done 
quickly, Medicare will not survive another 7 years. Republicans have 
responded to this warning. We are committed to protecting and 
preserving Medicare so that it can observe many more anniversaries.
  It would be wrong to just ignore the warnings of those in charge of 
Medicare. But, that is exactly what the Democrats are doing. They 
ignore the advice of leaders in their own party.
  Three of Bill Clinton's cabinet secretaries are on the Medicare 
Trustees Board, and yet the liberal Democrats here in the House act as 
if they do not exist. By their silence, liberal Democrats are admitting 
they would rather see Medicare go bankrupt.
  The difference here, Mr. Speaker, is that Republicans want to save 
Medicare, Democrats do not want to do anything.


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