John W. Olver: “I oppose the rule because this bill is a sham. It covers only the poorest senior citizens whose incomes place them near…”

“I oppose the rule because this bill is a sham. It covers only the poorest senior citizens whose incomes place them near or below the poverty standard. It deliberately creates another division in America: us who are wealthy enough to take care of ourselves and them who are given a taxpayer handout because they are poor. In fact, the Republican plan is carefully designed to fail, not immediately, of course, certainly not before the November election. It is being polished to look like gold until after the election. But next year when everyone realizes this plan was virtually useless and worthless, fool's gold, that failure will be used as a spear to attack Medicare, the hammer the Republicans hope to use to privatize Medicare. That is the bottom line, privatization. Eliminate the Medicare program that provides universal, dependable, quality, guaranteed health insurance for every senior citizen by right of American citizenship. This bill is political chicanery at its very worst.”