[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 JOIN THE FIGHT TO CUT HEALTH CARE TO PAY FOR TAX BREAKS FOR THOSE WHO 
                             NEED IT LEAST

  (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, 30 years ago this country made a pact with 
senior citizens: Work hard all your life and you will be assured of 
health care coverage when you need it most.
  Today the Medicare Program is one of our Nation's great success 
stories.
  Yesterday my Republican colleague the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Kasich] stated that billions of dollars in additional cuts were needed 
in the Medicare Program. Meanwhile, Speaker Gingrich announced a new 
Republican effort to eliminate all taxes on capital gains. These are 
the tax cuts, my colleagues, that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest 
5 percent of Americans versus 37 million seniors who have Medicare.
  Looks like my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are up to 
their old tricks, slashing Medicare to pay for tax cuts for the rich.
  Democrats in this Congress pledge today to continue to stand up for 
our Nation's seniors. We are going to fight these Republican efforts to 
cut the health care of those who need it the most to pay for tax breaks 
for those who need it least. They are afraid to put their budget on 
paper; that is why they will not produce a budget. They do not want it 
there.
  Read between the lines. It is the same old story: Medicare cuts to 
pay for tax cuts.

                          ____________________