[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 143 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TAX CUT FINANCED BY MEDICARE CUT

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, during the closing weeks of this legislative 
debate, the people of the United States should focus on two numbers, 
270 and 235. Keep those numbers in mind during the course of this 
debate about balancing the budget and the future of Medicare.
  You see, the Republicans have proposed $270 billion in cuts in 
Medicare over the next 7 years, cuts which will raise the cost of 
Medicare for seniors, limit the medical procedures that are covered, 
reduce the opportunity for a senior citizen to choose his or her own 
doctor, reduce provider payments to hospitals and doctors, $270 billion 
in cuts. They tell us we need it to balance the budget.
  Do not forget the other number, 245, $245 billion tax cut which the 
Republicans are proposing while we are trying to balance the budget. Is 
it not amazing how close those two numbers are, 270 and 245? If the 
Republicans would give up on the $245 billion tax cut, we would not 
have to cut Medicare.


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