[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           OUTRAGE OVER INCREASE IN MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate again my sense of 
outrage over this 17 percent increase in Medicare Part B premiums, 
which is basically $11 a month for America's seniors that is soon to go 
into effect.
  President Bush said, well, this is because health care costs have 
gone up, but what he does not say is it is actually the result of 
Republican policies. The Republicans passed their so-called Medicare 
prescription drug bill, which we know is a sham, does not even go into 
effect until the year 2006, but what that bill did was to give a lot 
more money to insurers, and, as a result, the cost of Medicare premiums 
are going up.
  The fact of the matter is that this 17 percent increase that is 
unaffordable for many seniors is a direct result of Republican policy 
and the Bush administration's policy, and it has to stop.
  We need a change of administration. We need a President, John Kerry, 
who is going to worry about senior citizens, address their needs, 
address the rising costs of health care, address the Medicare concerns, 
provide a true prescription drug benefit.
  This premium increase is just an indication of what we would see over 
the next 2-years if the Republicans continue in power in this House. It 
has got to stop. Seniors should wake up and see the result of the Bush 
policies and what it means for their Medicare program.

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