Richard Burr: “the challenge for us, as everybody will agree, is that there are 30-plus million Americans who fall under this umbrella…”

“the challenge for us, as everybody will agree, is that there are 30-plus million Americans who fall under this umbrella of Medicare, and it grows every day. We certainly know what the demographic shift is in America. We have heard the numbers as they relate to Social Security. We talk about it enough related to Medicare, but the fact is the senior that goes on Social Security is also the senior that will go on Medicare. The population will double in the next 15 to 20 years in America, and I think there is a responsibility that we have to make sure that the system is sound enough that it will go on. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to talk about some of the numbers that we hear on a daily basis as we discuss drugs. Individuals might see on the nightly news when they talk about the individual who is making a choice between food and drugs or drugs and something else in their monthly budget. The President's new proposal has a full subsidy at 135 percent of poverty. That income level on an annual basis is $11,727 a year; excuse me, the 150 percent is $11,727. What happens to that person that is at 135 to 150? Clearly they have the same choices that they have to make, maybe not as great as the person at 100 percent.”