David Weldon: “I am pleased that the bill before us would add an additional $35 billion to Medicare's budget over the next five years.…”

“I am pleased that the bill before us would add an additional $35 billion to Medicare's budget over the next five years. As you may recall, the principle reason I voted against the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement (BBA) was my concern that the budget restraints on the Medicare budget included in that bill were unsustainable. That has proven to be the case and that is why we are moving forward with legislation to add money to the Medicare budget. I have cosponsored legislation that would add billions of dollars to Medicare, and I was pleased to vote for this legislation when it was before the House a few months ago. I am glad that this bill will also increase spending on Medicare+Choice HMOs. I have heard from many of my constituents who are enrolled in these plans and who have become increasingly concerned about the availability of these plans in their communities. This funding will help ensure that these plans remain available to seniors. Given the opportunity to vote separately on this additional Medicare funding, I would again vote in favor of it. While I am very supportive of this additional funding for Medicare and have recently voted in favor of this added funding, I am disappointed that Congressional leaders and President Clinton have chosen to lump this provision into a single catchall omnibus bill with hundreds of billions of dollars in spending and a various unrelated legislative provisions.…”