On the recordMay 24, 2011
I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for bringing up some issues that need to be responded to. First of all, let me say he says that we plan to repeal Medicare. It was the Democrats who, in voting for the health care act that took over health care in this country to the Federal Government, who cut $500 billion from Medicare--a half a trillion dollars. Republicans have made no recommendations to cut Medicare at all. Only the Democrats have voted to do that. Not Republicans. Republicans want to save Medicare, Mr. Speaker. That is what we are doing. We're recommending that we save Medicare for the future. The Democrats are the only ones who want to repeal Medicare by cutting that money from it. Let me mention a couple of other things that my colleague has spoken about in terms of underlying bills. {time} 1330 In terms of the Patriot Act, I believe it is the Attorney General, the Democrat Attorney General, Mr. Holder, who has recommended not only that the Patriot Act be renewed, but that all three of these provisions be made permanent. It is coming from that side of the aisle that they want the Patriot Act renewed. So their President is pushing for this. In terms of borrowing for the war, Mr. Speaker, you know, it is the Federal Government and only the Federal Government that provides for the national defense of this country. That is why we have a Federal Government, Mr. Speaker. It's why we became the United States.…
