[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 77 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REPUBLICAN CUTS IN MEDICARE AND MEDICAID WILL CLOSE HOSPITALS

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, the radical right of the Republicans under 
Speaker Gingrich are at it again. Last year the Democrats and the 
minority brought to the attention of the people of this country that 
the radical Republicans under Speaker Gingrich were going to cut, under 
their budget and under their Balanced Budget Act, Medicare and 
Medicaid. They were going to make senior citizens pay more for it. They 
were going to close hospitals before that bill ended this 4, 5, 6, and 
7 years, hospitals all across this Nation.
  Well, we, as the minority, along with the President, by vetoing the 
legislation, we stopped that. Well, guess what, folks? Look at this 
year's budget by the Republicans again. They are at it again.
  I will have, if that comes true, I will have at least four hospitals 
in my district that will have to be closed. That ends medical care not 
only for the elderly but for everybody else. I will have senior 
citizens that have to pay more.
  I want to tell the gentleman from Arizona that spoke before, why does 
he want to cut Medicare and Medicaid?

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