[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WASTEFUL PRACTICES COST MEDICARE BILLIONS

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, the top 10 reasons why the Democrats cannot 
solve the Medicare problem is they do not tell the straight facts. I 
can say that 10 times, but I do not want to use all my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about waste, fraud, and abuse in the 
Medicare Program, because this program is spending so much money. It is 
alleged that almost 12 percent of the entire Medicare-Medicaid budget 
is rife with fraud and abuse.
  Let me share some facts. In 1980 Medicare spent $34 billion. In 1990 
that sum had increased to $107 billion. In 1995 it will spend 
approximately $177 billion. When Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed 
banks, he responded, ``That's where the money is.''
  Is it any wonder with billions of dollars at stake that all manner of 
scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells would plunder this Government bank 
account for all it is worth.
  Over the next few weeks I plan to talk a good deal about this problem 
which is costing the taxpayers
 billions of dollars. I also plan to talk about what we can do to 
remedy the fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare Program.

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