Jim Bunning: “If we want to balance the Federal budget, I suggest we not do it on the backs of our senior citizens. That is what my…”

“If we want to balance the Federal budget, I suggest we not do it on the backs of our senior citizens. That is what my good colleague from Maryland is asking Members to do. I am asking that our seniors, our most vulnerable people in society, those who are so wealthy at $33,000 worth of income, who have to pay and get their Medicare furnished to them by the Federal Government, I ask that they not be asked to burden another 35 percent increase, which they have been asked to do since 1993. I don't think it is fair to ask our senior citizens to carry that burden when the younger Americans, who pay the bulk of our taxes, are those who should be asked to pay the burden. One thing I want to make sure Members understand when they vote on this amendment is, never in the history of this tax has one penny of it ever gone into the Social Security system--not one penny--since 1993. It has all been dedicated to Medicare Part A.”