John Boehner: “the 1996 Medicare trustees report is expected to be released later today. Early reports are showing that the trust fund…”

“the 1996 Medicare trustees report is expected to be released later today. Early reports are showing that the trust fund is headed toward bankruptcy much quicker than what we had expected. Last year Republicans had the courage to seriously address Medicare's impending bankruptcy. We produced and passed an honest and reasonable plan that would increase benefits for senior citizens, fight fraud and abuse, and extend long-term solvency to this very vital program. Our plan last year to address Medicare solvency problems increased per beneficiary spending from $4,800 in 1995 to $7,100 in the year 2002. The President's response, with the help of his liberal allies last year, was to divide our country by launching a scare campaign aimed at seniors. The President should stop misleading and scaring seniors and come to the table with a serious plan that addresses Medicare's serious solvency problem. What should scare our parents is that President Clinton is doing nothing to help solve the impending bankruptcy of Medicare.”