[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10275]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       THE ADMINISTRATION IS AGAIN PLAYING POLITICS WITH MEDICARE

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, whom should Americans trust more to protect 
the Medicare program for seniors? Let us look at the facts.
  Democrats sat idly by while Medicare was on the verge of bankruptcy 
during the period of time that they controlled both the White House and 
the Congress. Then Republicans won the majority of the Congress, and 
almost immediately reformed and strengthened Medicare for the first 
time ever. Democrats then attacked Republicans for reforming a program 
that should have been reformed a long time ago. That is fact number 
one.
  Now consider this. We find out that this administration is spending 
$20 billion less on Medicare than the law allows. Let me repeat that. 
This administration is spending $20 billion less on Medicare than 
Congress intended and as authorized by law.
  Hospitals are feeling the pinch. Seniors are not getting the care 
they need as quickly as they need it. Why is this administration 
playing politics once again with Medicare? Again, I ask the question, 
whom should seniors trust more to protect Medicare?

                          ____________________