Lynn C. Woolsey: “why is Medicare running into financial trouble sooner than we thought? Because the new majority is more interested in…”

“why is Medicare running into financial trouble sooner than we thought? Because the new majority is more interested in raiding Medicare for special interest tax breaks than in buckling down and coming up with a bipartisan plan to keep Medicare solvent. Instead of proposing changes in Medicare that would lead to greater solvency of the trust fund, the Gingrich-Dole majority proposed limiting physician choice, draining the system of healthy participants through medical savings accounts, and eliminating laws against fraud in the health care industry. That is no way to save Medicare. We can avoid the dire predictions of the Medicare trustees. We should work together. Democrats proposed a plan to keep Medicare solvent while maintaining the guarantee of health care for older Americans. Our plan keeps Medicare in the black for years to come without the devastating cuts that make seniors see red. What we need around here is the courage to do what's right. What we don't need are special interest tax breaks paid for by our Nation's seniors.”