[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 119 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TAKING EXCEPTION TO PLAN TO SAVE MEDICARE

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today, and I am glad 
my colleague from Arizona talked about it, to take exception with the 
Republican plan to save Medicare. Only in Washington can they say that 
they are going to save Medicare and cut $270 billion, and then give a 
$245 billion tax cut. They are telling the American people they are 
saving the system.
  Well, that does not play in Houston, TX. Maybe it plays in Arizona. 
We are smarter than that. I have a letter from a senior citizen in my 
district. She had an ear infection and went to an HMO, which is what 
they want to force senior citizens to go to. She had to wait 2 months 
before she could see a doctor for an ear infection. That is a long time 
to have your ear hurt.
  I think the Republicans are moving too fast when they talk about even 
waiting until September to change senior citizen health care to managed 
care. Still they want to give that $245 billion tax cut and cut $270 
billion in growth in Medicare.
  Only in Washington can somebody get away with saying we are saving 
the system, but we are cutting $270 billion.


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