[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NO MORE MEDICARE UNDER THE REPUBLICANS

  (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, as we have heard here and as reports have 
been made, the Republicans are trying to rewrite history as far as what 
Speaker Gingrich said with regard to Medicare. There is no question, it 
is in the Record, what he did say:

       We do not get rid of it in round one because we don't think 
     that that is politically smart. We don't think that is the 
     right way to go through a transition period. But we believe 
     it is going to wither on the vine, because we think people 
     are voluntarily going to leave it.

  That is what the Speaker said. Now what does it mean? That means he 
is getting rid of Medicare. That is the way they voted. If we look at 
all the bills they have passed through here in regard to Medicare, in 7 
years, folks, there is not going to be any more Medicare.
  Senior citizens out there are waking up to it. They realize it. The 
Republicans are trying to rewrite what the Speaker said. They are 
trying to say that that applies to HCFA. Mr. Speaker, that does not 
apply to HCFA. There is not anybody leaving HCFA. There are not any 
members of HCFA.

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