On the recordJune 22, 2011
Our seniors need Medicare. As we prepare to celebrate its 46th anniversary next month, history shows Medicare has been one of the most successful health care programs in our Nation. Seniors rely on it. But my Republican colleagues, sadly, want to end Medicare as we know it. Missouri's own Harry Truman conceived of Medicare and was the recipient of the first Medicare card in 1965 as it was signed into law by LBJ. At the time, 40 percent of American seniors over 65 lived at or below the poverty level. Now, more than 40 million seniors in America are enrolled in Medicare, including 1 million Missourians, and the poverty rate for seniors has dropped to only 10 percent. The Republican plan is to reopen the doughnut hole, double seniors' medical expenses, and give insurance companies the power to ration care. We cannot let this happen. Everyone agrees we must make serious cuts to lower our debt, but we have to take a balanced approach that doesn't threaten the fragile recovery or scapegoat American seniors. I ask my colleagues to set our differences aside and have a serious conversation about our debt that respects what seniors need and deserve. ____________________
