Political Quotes

“If the gentleman will yield on that point, I want to be sure that that's not missed, and that may be the most important statement made tonight. I believe you said that, through a lifetime, a Medicare recipient will pay in an average of 100,000 or so dollars but will take out, on average, $300,000. So what we really have with Medicare is somewhat of a subsidy system which does not subsidize according, necessarily, to need. My point in saying that is: Warren Buffett, today, because he's over 65, qualifies for Medicare, and if he gets care, I assume would get the same subsidized care, subsidized by whom? Taxpayers--middle-class, working- class people who pay the private insurance rates. In some ways, Medicare has become not just help for the poor and the elderly, but just subsidy for people over 65. And so we're going to have to look at: Is there a way in the future that we can even this out, where we're not necessarily subsidizing for those who are capable of paying some of their own costs? Mr. DesJARLAIS. Right. As you say, it's clear that $1 in for $3 out doesn't add up by anybody's math, even Washington's math. So those factors make it very clear that Medicare is on an unsustainable path. I find it very frustrating that so many people are living in fear right now with this misinformation. And if any of the other Members-- I'm sure they experienced, as my office did, the AARP here, a few weeks ago, had seniors calling Congressmen to say, you know, Don't cut our Medicare.…”