[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 177 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE INTEGRITY OF MEDICARE

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, my good friend and colleague from New 
Hampshire has basically not responded to the central thrust of our 
amendment, and that is the cuts which are being proposed by the 
Republican program, according to CBO, means that there will be $50 
billion in premium increases and $24 billion in increases in 
deductibles. We are also talking about $245 billion in tax breaks for 
the wealthy individuals.
  He failed to explain the connection, but the connection is there for 
everyone to see. The Democrats offered, under the leadership of Tom 
Daschle, the proposal which would guarantee the financial integrity of 
the Medicare system without a single dime increase for the premiums for 
those under Medicare and Social Security; not a single dime. Every 
Democrat voted for that and only one Republican voted for it. Every 
other Republican voted against it. It would have preserved the 
integrity of the Medicare system for the next 10 years.
  But, nonetheless, the Republicans wanted to move the burden over to 
the payment of senior citizens, to collect the $50 billion--$51 
billion, according to CBO. It is right there in the chart, $51 billion. 
It says, ``Increase in the premiums, $51 billion.'' It is there under 
your proposal. It is not there under ours. What is under yours is the 
tax breaks for wealthy individuals that is going right along with this 
proposal. That is the justification and the reason for this kind of 
cut. We can maintain the integrity of the Medicare system without 
having these kinds of increases. The only reason you need these kinds 
of increases is to have a tax cut.
  So the American people have to say why should the major tax cut, that 
is being proposed by the Republicans, go to the wealthy individuals and 
corporations, and the premium increases are coming out of people who 
are going to rely on $5,300 or $7,800 or, at the top, $10,000 a year to 
survive?
  So this, the increase in premiums for our seniors over this period of 
time, is $12,400 more in premiums over the 7 years. That is what the 
seniors are going to pay under the Republican proposal.
  You can complain all you like about what your proposal is going to 
do, but you cannot argue with the CBO figures. If you have something 
better on it, then address it. And that kind of wholesale increase, tax 
increase, the wiping out of the COLA's, the increasing of the premiums 
and the deductibles by that amount in order to justify a tax break is 
something that I find is absolutely unacceptable and I think most 
Americans find unacceptable. Certainly the seniors would find that 
unacceptable.
  To do it on a continuing resolution at this time without full 
discussion and debate, I think, is unjustified and unwarranted and 
unfair.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. BRYAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. BRYAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business for a period of time not to exceed 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Nevada is recognized.

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