[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 157 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H11814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




GOVERNMENTAL TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE AND THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IT WILL 
                          HAVE ON OUR SENIORS

  (Mr. BROWN of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight 
the Democrats' plan to pay for their government takeover of health care 
by cutting nearly $162 billion of Medicare at the expense of our 
seniors.
  Across the Nation, nearly 11 million seniors chose Medicare Advantage 
plans as their preferred coverage. Of those 11 million, over 11,000 
seniors in the First District of South Carolina, an area with many 
retirees, may have their coverage dropped or benefits cut if the 
Democrats have it their way.
  Despite the President's promise that if you like your current plan 
you can keep it, it is clear that some seniors will eventually be 
forced into a government-run plan. Additionally, the CBO has said that 
the Democrats' plan will increase seniors' Medicare prescription drug 
costs by 20 percent over the next decade.
  As Medicare dangerously approaches bankruptcy, Democrats must open 
the process up to Republicans to work to repair this rapidly failing 
program and protect our seniors from rising drug costs, limited 
coverage, and reduced quality of care. Republicans vow to honor our 
seniors by blocking Washington's bureaucrats from overregulating their 
health care and by providing options and the best quality coverage for 
all Americans.

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