[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 119 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO PRIVATIZE MEDICARE

  (Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, the Republican leadership has 
misled Americans with their proposal to reform Medicare. ``Reform'' 
means to ``make something better'' not ``make it worse.''
  The Republicans' idea of reform is to dismantle Medicare and limit 
choice by herding seniors into private managed care, requiring seniors 
to pay more in out-of-pocket expenses, while receiving less in vital 
health care services.
  Seniors have more health needs.
  It is very unlikely HMO's will enroll seniors without raising 
premiums or restricting hospital stays, medical testing, and 
prescriptions.
  Paying more to receive less services is not making the system better.
  Also, instead of using the Medicare savings to improve the health 
care system, the Republican reformers will take $270 billion from 
Medicare to pay for a $245 billion tax cut for the wealthy.
  The goal of the Republican Medicare plan is clear: Raid Medicare and 
put our Nation's seniors at risk to pay for tax breaks that make the 
wealthy more healthy.

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