[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 162 (Thursday, October 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PROPOSED CUTS IN MEDICARE WILL HURT SENIORS

  (Mr. SANDERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, there is no excuse for a $270-billion cut 
in Medicare when the Republican leadership is simultaneously providing 
huge tax breaks for the rich, is building more B-2 bombers, and is 
maintaining $125 billion in corporate welfare.
  In my State, these cuts will result in over 80,000 elderly and 
disabled Vermonters paying higher premiums for a weakened Medicare 
system. As a result of the Republican plan, Medicare part B premiums 
will rise by $312 in the year 2002.
  Mr. Speaker, not only will seniors be paying more for a weakened 
system, but throughout our country and in rural States like Vermont our 
rural hospitals will be endangered. Fifty-five percent of the revenue 
that comes into our hospitals come from Medicare and Medicaid, and many 
of them will not be able to sustain these cuts.

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