Frank Pallone: “Newt Gingrich is now running away from this quote and saying that he did not mean to say that Medicare would wither on…”

“Newt Gingrich is now running away from this quote and saying that he did not mean to say that Medicare would wither on the vine, but the bottom line is that the Republican leadership's actions and the legislation that they pass in this House would accomplish that goal. By cutting Medicare by $270 billion in order to finance tax breaks for the wealthy, essentially what happens is that the Medicare Program will not have enough money to finance quality health care for seniors and the level of services for seniors. In addition, the Republican Medicare plan would have doubled premiums and forced seniors out of traditional Medicare because they would no longer have their choice of doctors. That is what the Republican Party is all about. Lest anybody think that they were not going to continue this policy, they voted on another budget this year in this House of Representatives that again would slash Medicare in order to finance tax breaks to the wealthy. Today was the day when they were supposed to report back on how they were going to destroy and change Medicare structurally so that it would basically wither on the vine. Well, that deadline is passed. But I would still like to know what the Republican leadership has in mind for Medicare in this Congress. We still do not know, but one thing is for sure: The seniors should beware.”