[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H10088-H10089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN MEDICARE

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting the previous speaker 
would say that, take your plan to the trustees. They are a bunch of 
politicians, Reich, Shalala, and Rubin, all appointed by President 
Clinton. As the gentlewoman well knows, not one of them is an elected 
Member of Congress. I do not think Members of Congress need to go 
around pandering to Clinton administration trustees, saying would you 
please accept our plan. You are all good Democrats.
  As the gentlewoman knows, Medicare is a 1964 Blue Cross plan. I want 
to do something for my mom. I do not want her to drive around in a 1964 
Chevrolet Biscayne that we used to have when I was a kid.
  We are trying to do what I hope the Democrats are trying to do: 
Protect, preserve, and strengthen Medicare. We want your help. I agree 
with the gentlewoman it should not be partisan. It bothers me when I 
hear countless speech after speech, partisan flame throwing back and 
forth.
  We have to decrease the inflation rate. Medicare is up to an 11-
percent inflation rate. We have to bring it down to the 4- to 6-percent 
rage. We have been accused of cutting Medicare, but we are going from 
$4,800 to $6,700 per recipient. We want seniors to have the options and 
choices on physicians, and so forth.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. KINGSTON. I yield to the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  
[[Page H 10089]]

  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I would say for my mom, I would rather 
have trustees look at it rather than Members of Congress.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, my mom does not trust 
them. She trusts me.

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