[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 117 (Wednesday, July 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WE ARE NOT CUTTING MEDICARE

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, according to the President and I quote.

       Today, Medicaid and Medicare are going up three times the 
     rate of inflation. We propose to let it grow at two times the 
     rate of inflation. That is not a Medicare cut or a Medicaid 
     cut. So when you hear all this business about cuts, let me 
     caution you that that is not what's going on.

  While this statement is an excerpt from a speech given to the AARP in 
1993, the President's words are very relevant to the current debate on 
Medicare.
  House Republicans are not proposing Medicare cuts. In fact, under our 
balanced budget plan Medicare will still be one of the fastest growing 
programs in the Federal budget. And spending per Medicare beneficiary 
will increase from $4,800 this year to $6,700 in 2002.
  Mr. Speaker, saving Medicare from bankruptcy is too important for 
politics as usual. Instead of scaring seniors with imaginary Medicare 
cuts, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle need to acknowledge 
the pending crisis in Medicare, roll up their sleeves, and help us 
preserve, protect, and strengthen this vital program.

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