[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PROTECT MEDICARE

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, last evening we had another reminder that 
democracy is alive and well in this great country. Yes, on national 
television Speaker Gingrich conceded that his effort to dismantle 
Medicare this year, in his words, let it wither on the vine, has 
failed. That failure results directly from the voice of the American 
people, those who spoke out, those who wrote, those who demanded that 
their elected Members in Congress be accountable for protecting one of 
the most effective programs in American history, Medicare, which 
assures the security for health care of millions of older Americans and 
people with disabilities.
  I commend the Speaker. Even though he pledged to try again to 
dismantle Medicare next year, he has finally yielded to the voice of 
the American people.
  But I disagree with him on this. Mr. Speaker, we cannot walk away 
from our commitment to a balanced budget. We do not need a minimal down 
payment on the deficit. We need to bring the deficit down just as the 
last speaker said. And we can do that without bringing Medicare down 
with it. That is what the American people want. Protect Medicare, 
assure a balanced budget. We can deliver on that.

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