[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRIVATIZING MEDICARE

  (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, the National Commission on the Future 
of Medicare is poised to recommend to the President and the Congress 
that one of our Nation's best government programs, Medicare, be 
delivered to the private insurance market. There is nothing new here. 
Conservative newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and the Washington 
Times, and conservative Republicans, have been trying for years to 
privatize Medicare. Privatize, they say, in order to save it.
  This is a critical time for Medicare. The program faces significant 
financial difficulty, in part because of the impending retirement of 
baby boomers and the fact that people are living longer. The Republican 
answer has been to move Medicare beneficiaries into managed care and 
create Medicare medical savings accounts. Privatize the program in 
order to save it.
  Medicare is a fundamental part of the fabric of our country. Thirty-
three years ago, before Medicare, half of the elderly of this country 
had no health insurance. Today, virtually everyone over 65 is covered 
by Medicare.
  Meanwhile, the private insurance industry leaves 43 million Americans 
uninsured. That is why our public institutions like Medicare and Social 
Security are so important. We must keep Medicare the successful public 
program that it is.

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