[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DO NOT EXCLUDE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM THE MEDICARE DEBATE

  (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, we have had 28 days of hearings on 
Whitewater, 14 days of hearings on Waco-Ruby Ridge. We had 2 days of 
hearings on the Chinese prison system.
  Mr. Speaker, 1 day of hearing has been held on Medicare. We were 
supposed to commence the markup of this legislation right after we 
returned from the August recess. The legislation was supposed to be 
ready for the floor. Yet time after time, this proposal has been 
postponed.
  We have not had but 1 day of hearing. We have not considered the 
legislation. The clock is running. The calendar is turning.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to be fair. What do my 
Republican colleagues have to hide? Why is it that they are afraid to 
bring the American people into consideration of their proposal to cut 
Medicare $270 billion, to make a savings that is only necessary to be 
$89 billion, according to the trustees of the Social Security System?
  Let us be fair. Let us be open. Let us have hearings. Let us not 
continue this process of delay, while we at the same time exclude the 
American people from the process.

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