Date: 1995-08-01
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am absolutely disgusted with the lies and misinformation coming from the Democrats about Medicare. This past weekend. Democrats held town meetings with seniors to spread fear about the Republican efforts to save Medicare. One was held in my hometown of Dallas. I find it unconscionable that these Democrats can tell seniors that Republicans are cutting Medicare when our budget increases Medicare spending by 5.8 percent every year over the next 7 years. Yes. you heard me right. Medicare spending increases by 5.8 percent every year per patient. Spending will increase from $4.800 in 1995 to $6.700 in the year 2002. and that is more of an increase than your usual annual wage increase. It is not a cut. and anyone who says it is either needs to take math over again or try to lie better. The worst part of this big lie campaign is that the news media has fallen right into their hands. The Dallas paper did not even bother to cover Medicare meetings that were held in Dallas earlier with over 300 seniors at each of three different meetings. I was there. I - held them. We discussed the problems with Medicare and talked openly about the possible solutions with seniors. I know seniors have the experience with Medicare necessary to provide us with good ideas for reform. So instead of holding meetings to scare them about Medicare. I am making them part of the solution. And I think the seniors deserve that. This newspaper chose to run an article which. as the reporter freely admitted. was based almost solely on propaganda brochures passed out at the Democrats big lie meeting. The paper never bothered to check the facts with any member of either one of the congressional committees with jurisdiction over Medicare or anyone else that might be able to clarify facts for this story. This irresponsible journalism does a huge disservice to my constituents and others around the Nation and only makes the business of saving Medicare just that much harder. But American seniors should not be as concerned with what the Democrats are telling them as what the Democrats are not telling them. Although it probably was not mentioned at this weekends meeting. Medicare is facing an enormous crisis. The Medicare Board of Trustees. which includes four Clintonappointed Cabinet members. made it clear that Medicare is going broke and will be bankrupt in just 7 years. So unless Congress does something to help the system. there is not going to be any Medicare at all. Democrats are- not being honest with the seniors. They will throw out lies and use scare tactics. but when it comes .to the facts. they have nothing to say. Now I am going to turn 65 myself this year. and I am really worried that there are people like this in this Congress. people who would rather play partisan games than sit down- with us and figure out how to help todays seniors and future seniors in America by saving Medicare. So to the seniors in Dallas I say. I am sorry that you have been dragged into this political maneuvering. This issue is really too important to be left to politics as usual. and I assure you. with or without the Democrats. we are. going to pass a bill this year -that will protect. preserve. and strengthen Medicare for everyone in America.