Maurice Hinchey: “It is clear that that is his intention. I think you are right for pointing out that there are certain ideological…”

“It is clear that that is his intention. I think you are right for pointing out that there are certain ideological differences. There are things relating to public policy that separate the Democratic Party from the Republican Party, not every member of the Republican Party, because there are people in the Republican Party who very much appreciate Medicare, who like it, regard it as something very positive and want to support and sustain it. It happens, however, that the leadership in this House feels quite differently and the leadership in the Senate feels quite differently. They are very strongly opposed to it. They have said so themselves. They make no bones about it. They are not reticent about their opposition to it. They have been quite clear in the things that they have said. They are opposed to the continuation of Medicare, as they are opposed to the continuation of Medicaid, and they are trying to destroy these programs by taking the lifeblood from them, the funding that is necessary to keep them going.”