[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9115-9116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  THE REPUBLICAN MEDICARE-ENDING PLAN

  (Ms. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Republican 
ending-Medicare plan. Now some on the other side have complained about 
the unfairness of characterizing the Republican plan as an end to 
Medicare. But, Mr. Speaker, I just call it like it is. So here are the 
facts about the Republican Medicare-ending plan: Seniors will pay 
approximately $6,000 more in out-of-pocket expenses, double their 
expenses today. They'll lose benefits. They'll be forced to negotiate--
our seniors will be forced to negotiate with the big insurance 
companies under the Republican Medicare-ending plan. Under the 
Republican plan, seniors will immediately reopen the prescription-drug 
doughnut hole that we close. And so, Mr. Speaker, this is not a 
mischaracterization. It's just speaking the truth to the power of the 
Republican Medicare-ending plan for our seniors and for those who are 
approaching the age of 65. So I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to say that 
the Democrats are going to stand on the side of jobs, of working 
people, and of those who want to protect Medicare for future 
generations.

[[Page 9116]]



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