Barney Frank: “I was interested to hear the Members on the other side talk about how they are planning to save Medicare. Never has…”

“I was interested to hear the Members on the other side talk about how they are planning to save Medicare. Never has salvation looked so unattractive. Medicare is today hurting. The people in the State I represent, Massachusetts, used to have prescription drugs through their HMOs. Then the Republicans passed the Medicare bill in 1997 and they lost it. There was a reasonable home health care program in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and then the Republicans 'saved Medicare' in 1997 and wrecked home health care along the way. Hospitals are hurting, hospitals that are teaching hospitals and hospitals that deal with poor people. In 1997, the Republicans gave a capital gains tax cut and paid for it by cutting Medicare. So their notion of saving Medicare comes after they already, in 1997, made serious restrictions. People listening ought to understand, if they think Medicare is perfect now they can thank Republicans for saving it in that fashion. I find it to be a serious problem.”