[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         MEDICARE'S IMPENDING INSOLVENCY, REPUBLICANS' INACTION

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today the Medicare trustees will release 
the latest numbers on Medicare's impending insolvency. The Republicans 
are in the majority, so what is their solution? Instead of passing 
legislation to fix the trust fund, they have wasted the last 2 years 
trying to ram through deep Medicare cuts to finance tax breaks for the 
wealthy.
  Last week Republican leaders argued for an additional $30 billion in 
Medicare cuts. The Medicare legislation that the Republicans passed in 
the last Congress would have forced seniors to pay double premiums for 
lesser quality care.
  The Republicans fought the Medicare Program when it was created under 
Democratic control, and now they are relishing the opportunity to let 
it die under their watch.

                          ____________________