[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 159 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INCREASING MEDICARE, BUT AT A SLOWER RATE

  (Mr. WELDON of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton's Medicare 
trustees told us Medicare will be bankrupt by the year 2002. As a 
physician, I am one of a few Members of Congress who has treated 
Medicare patients. I understand how important this program is for the 
seniors and the future generations.
  Under the Republican plan, Medicare spending increases from $4,800 to 
$6,700. This is per senior. This is an increase of $1,900 and exceeds 
the projected inflation rate. For those in the other party and in the 
media who keep calling this a cut, I should put it another way. If you 
had a basket with 48 apples in it, how do you get to 67? Do you add 
apples to the basket or do you take apples out?
  Republicans agree that you add 19 apples to the basket in order to 
reach 67. Matehmatics agrees with us. We are increasing Medicare, but 
at a less than 10-percent rate increase. This is responsible and 
reasonable, and we will preserve and protect the Medicare plan. I urge 
all of my colleagues to support the Republican proposal.

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