Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for continued reforms to our health care system. The Affordable Care Act was a huge step in the right direction, but we can do more because the path we are on is unsustainable. The U.S. spends approximately 18 percent of its GDP on health--close to twice as much as other developed Nations--and yet we don't have better health care outcomes. Health care costs are rising faster than inflation and wages, meaning they are eating a larger portion of Americans' paychecks and the government's budget. If we continue on our current path, the Medicare trust fund will be insolvent by 2024. And Medicare and Medicaid will grow from 24 percent of the Federal budget to almost 30 percent, crowding out other needed investments. We have to reduce health care costs in both the private sector and the public sector in order to ensure America remains competitive in the global market. But there is a right way to reform our health care system and there is a wrong way. With all due respect, Mr. Ryan's plan is the wrong way. Mr. Ryan's plan for Medicare and Medicaid misses the point. His solution simply shifts the costs from the government to patients, rather than reducing health care costs. Under the Ryan budget, seniors would pay as much as $1,200 more each year by 2030, and $6,000 more by 2050. For over half of Medicare beneficiaries with incomes less than $21,000, a $1,200 increase is a huge piece of their budget.…”