On the recordApril 14, 2011
I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his leadership on this issue to repeal the funding of ObamaCare, and I rise in support of the resolution. It is impossible in the short time I have to describe the many reasons that justify defunding, repealing and replacing ObamaCare. Today, I want to mention one--the adverse impacts for those on Medicare. In Montana, this is a huge issue because our population is quite a bit older than in other States. Folks have paid into Medicare all their lives, and they rightfully expect the benefits to be there for them, but Medicare is going broke and will be bankrupt in 11 years. Supporters of the new health care law say they've strengthened Medicare, and point to the closing of the doughnut hole on prescription drugs. Let's examine that a little more carefully. The cost to the government to fix the doughnut hole is about $27 billion between now and 2019, but ObamaCare cuts Medicare benefits and reimbursements by more than $500 billion. These cuts aren't being used to save Medicare. They're being used to pay for the cost of the new entitlements in ObamaCare. For seniors in Montana and in the rest of America, this is not a good trade. But that's not all. Most people aren't even aware that ObamaCare includes a $210 billion tax increase on Medicare. Again, that money isn't going to be used to save Medicare. This tax will go to pay for the cost of new entitlements.…
