[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  (Mr. DAVIS of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we have heard other speakers try 
to explain in simple terms exactly why Medicare is going bankrupt. 
Today I would like to take the next step: Explain what can be done 
about it.
  First I would like to start with a fundamental principle, a principle 
that reflects my values and the importance that I would attach to 
freedom. That principle is: Other things being equal, individual choice 
is preferable to collective choice. Said another way, I think I know 
what is best for me and my family better than the government does. It 
means that I can spend my money better than the government thinks they 
can spend my money.
  Another principle stems from this principle: To override individual 
choice requires a compelling reason.
  So the first step to reform Medicare is to apply those principles to 
the system. That is why the first reform is to allow seniors more 
choices in their Medicare and the option in one case to choose medical 
savings accounts or MSAs. MSA is the best option for many seniors, and 
they ought to have the opportunity to choose that. I ask my colleagues 
to help pass this first test, essential Medicare reform.

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