Chuck Schumer: “Yesterday two contrasting events showed just where the Republican majority wishes to take us on Medicare. On the one…”

“Yesterday two contrasting events showed just where the Republican majority wishes to take us on Medicare. On the one hand, Mr. Speaker, Speaker Gingrich was in the room with the doctors, the AMA, and they were negotiating a deal. On the other hand, Mr. Speaker, a group of seniors who wished to be heard were actually arrested and handcuffed, although the charges were later dropped, for daring to try and speak to one of the committees that has their future in its hands. Simply, the doctors were in a room cutting a deal. I ask, Why weren't the seniors at the table? All they got, Mr. Speaker, was locked out and locked up. Mr. Speaker, if the doctors made a deal and got their cut, the only cut the seniors got was to their benefits. This shows what is going on here. Very simply, they are lining up the providers and giving them what they want and telling the beneficiaries, the senior citizens who have worked so hard, 'You are going to suffer.' Mr. Speaker, we must stop this Medicare plan. It is unfair, unwise, and unbalanced.”