[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  (Ms. McKINNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute).
  Ms. McKinney. Mr. Speaker, gripped by the fear of losing control over 
the first Republican Congress in 40 years, Newt Gingrich and his 
legions are trying to convince the public that they did not cut 
Medicare to pay for tax breaks to the wealthy.
  On October 26, however, Speaker Gingrich boasted about Republican 
efforts to weaken fee-for-service Medicare to the point where it would, 
quote, ``Wither on the vine.''
  And in an attempt to back away from that statement, Speaker Gingrich 
said that he meant the health care financing administration would 
wither on the vine. The Los Angeles Times, however, reported that 
Speaker Gingrich's spokesman, Tony Blankley, said that, quote, 
``Gingrich's comments were consistent with the Republican belief that 
most seniors would voluntarily choose to leave the traditional Medicare 
fee-for-service system in favor of HMO's.''
  Now that's the real scoop on Newt Gingrich and Medicare.
  Think about it, when have you known the Speaker to not say what he 
means and mean what he says.

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