Andrea Joy Campbell: “Both sides agree that the unconstrained growth of Medicare will wreck the budget of the United States. All sides agree…”

“Both sides agree that the unconstrained growth of Medicare will wreck the budget of the United States. All sides agree with that. In 1992, our former colleague, presently the Budget Director, my colleague from the California delegation, proposed a program of $400 billion, that is a ``b,'' cuts in the rate of growth of Medicare over an 8-year period, and that was a part of what I considered at the time a very straightforward and honest attempt to save Medicare. It was not to take what was rightfully the seniors' and give to others. No. It was a good-faith effort by our colleague from California, the former colleague from California, to save Medicare for those who needed it. He realized at that time that Medicare was growing at better than twice the general inflation rate. ... What is being attempted by Mr. Panetta in 1992 and the Republicans now is a longer term answer, one that will guarantee Medicare is there for those who need it many years from now.”