[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 77 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5654-H5655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REPUBLICANS' MEDICAID PROPOSALS WILL ALLOW EXTRA CHARGES TO RECIPIENTS

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, last week, in a room off the floor, House 
Republicans could take a minute out of their day and have their picture 
taken with a senior citizen and a sign that read something like this: 
``I am friendly to seniors.''
  It was a staged photo opportunity and, in fact, it was and is phony. 
Since taking control of the Congress, the Republicans have waged an 
all-out assault against seniors. Their new budget cuts $169 billion 
from Medicare in order to finance tax breaks for the wealthy.
  Today's Washington Post says the current Medicaid proposal from the 
GOP would ``turn Medicaid over to the

[[Page H5655]]

States. It would allow States to levy copayments and other charges on 
certain Medicaid recipients.''
  In other words, Mr. Speaker, seniors could be forced to pay for 
services that they receive now. And it means extra bills for many who 
are on fixed incomes.
  Republicans have consistently targeted seniors for budget cutbacks 
while setting aside hefty tax breaks for the wealthy. With a track 
record like that, it is no wonder that the Republicans have had to 
stage photo ops. Better to hide behind a Kodak moment than to face how 
your policies have affected this Nation's seniors.

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