Byron Dorgan: “I support the change that will result in substantial savings through reduction of Medicare reimbursements to providers.…”

“I support the change that will result in substantial savings through reduction of Medicare reimbursements to providers. I also agree with other changes that will improve and streamline the program. However, I voted against the proposal included in the Committee's bill which would increase the eligibility age from 65 to 67 and the proposal to impose a means-test for higher-income beneficiaries. I am willing to consider supporting both of these proposals under the right conditions, which I will describe below but I think it is inappropriate to be making Medicare cuts on the spending side of reconciliation in order to make room for larger tax cuts on the revenue side of reconciliation. Whatever changes are made in Medicare should be made exclusively and specifically for the purpose of extending the solvency of Medicare--not for the purpose of providing additional room for tax cuts, the bulk of which are proposed to go to upper income earners in the United States. We must look at the right ways to keep Medicare solvent without breaking faith with the country's senior citizens.”