[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9229]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Americans have been very clear about where 
they stand on the Republicans' budget proposal: They reject it soundly, 
and for many reasons. But the most glaring reason is the effort to 
change Medicare as we know it. No wonder. It ends a successful program 
that has saved seniors from illness and poverty for over four decades--
millions of them.
  Their so-called budget is nothing more than an ideological plan to 
shift the burden to seniors, who can least afford it, in an effort to 
put the insurance companies between senior patients and their doctors. 
With all due respect to the ranking member of the Budget Committee here 
in the Senate, pointing the finger at Democrats, as he has done, will 
not erase the fact they plan to end the Medicare Program as we know it 
and like it.
  Democrats, Republicans, and Independents feel the same way, and no 
amount of political distortions or distractions will change that. Only 
when Republicans agree to take cuts to Medicare off the table can we 
have a serious discussion about how we can move forward in our battle 
to decrease the deficit.
  Republicans claim only sacrifices from seniors will balance the 
budget. We disagree. Yet they protect tax breaks for millionaires and 
billionaires. They protect the billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded 
handouts to oil companies making record profits. The Republican plan 
will put insurance company bureaucrats between seniors and their 
doctors. It would force each senior, for example, to pay $6,400 more 
each year for health care.
  Breaking our promise to seniors, while wealthy oil companies and 
billionaires get a pass, is simply too high a price to pay. We need to 
strengthen Medicare for the millions of seniors who count on it every 
day, and preserve it for our children and grandchildren, not cut 
seniors' benefits.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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