[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE BUDGET AND MEDICARE

  (Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, as my constituents remind me 
frequently, seniors have paid into the Medicare system their whole 
working lives. Seniors have done so with the understanding that, if 
they work hard and play by the rules, this country will provide for 
their health care needs during retirement. That is why I am committed 
to working with my colleagues and the administration to ensure the 
survival of Medicare, and that is why I strongly oppose the Republican 
budget.
  The Republican budget would end Medicare by transforming it into a 
voucher program, and it would slash over $1 trillion in benefits over 
the next decade. So, with far less money in hand, our seniors would 
become dependent on insurance companies to decide the fate of their 
health care--insurance companies that could price our seniors out of 
the market or cut benefits at will. Also, while the Republican budget 
takes from seniors to cut costs, it gives millionaires an average tax 
cut of at least--at least and I've seen larger numbers--$150,000 in 
2014.
  Our seniors deserve better. I look forward to a real bipartisan 
effort to preserve the promise of Medicare for future generations.

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