[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0910
                        THE PLAN TO END MEDICARE

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, Republicans are doubling down on their plan 
to end Medicare, voting this week for a second time on their Road to 
Ruin budget that ends Medicare. Republicans instead should listen to 
the will of the people, who overwhelmingly oppose their Medicare plans, 
and instead work in a bipartisan way to address deficits and strengthen 
Medicare.
  The Republican budget more than doubles costs for future generations 
and puts insurance companies back in charge. According to the CBO, in 
2022 the average senior will see their costs increase by more than 
$6,000, and the Republican budget also cuts benefits for today's 
seniors. It reopens the prescription drug doughnut hole, increasing 
costs for the estimated 4 million seniors who fall into the coverage 
gap by as much as $44 billion over the next decade, including $2.2 
billion in 2012 alone. It also increases costs for preventive care and 
eliminates the annual wellness benefit.
  The Republican budget has the wrong priorities and makes the wrong 
choices for seniors and middle class families.

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