[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SHORTFALL GROWING IN MEDICARE HOSPITAL TRUST FUND

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute).
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read from the front page of 
this morning's Cincinnati Enquirer in my district. It says, ``Losses 
Hit Medicare Trust Fund. $4.2 Billion Shortfall Growing.'' The article 
quotes a special assistant to President Clinton, who says the new 
numbers indicate the need to move forward, balance the budget and enact 
some changes in Medicare that will strengthen the trust fund. Well, no 
kidding. This from the same administration that for the last year has 
been opposing every effort to do just that.
  Now that President Clinton's own team that has belatedly figured out 
that the Medicare trust fund is going bankrupt, perhaps the President 
is ready to abandon his campaign rhetoric finally and join those of us 
in Congress who have been working to save Medicare for this generation 
and for future generations of American citizens. Maybe it will stop the 
shameless ``medicare'' campaign and we can work together to save 
Medicare.

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