Sherrod Brown: “I want to close with an interesting point that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland) raised. He said it just seems…”

“I want to close with an interesting point that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland) raised. He said it just seems that Republicans do not much like the Medicare program. On the surface, that does not sound like it makes sense, because I have a whole lot of Republican constituents who love Medicare. They know it has saved their lives and let them live longer, let them live healthier lives; but there is something about Republican politicians and their relationship with Medicare. Back in 1965, 12 Republicans, 12 Republicans total voted for Medicare, to create Medicare. Bob Dole voted against it, Gerald Ford voted against it, Strom Thurmond voted against it, Donald Rumsfeld voted against it. Then, 30 years later, the first time the Republicans had control of this House and the majority, they tried to cut $270 billion, with a B, billion from Medicare. That failed because President Clinton got out his veto pen and said, Do not even try. Then, in 2002, or in 1999, Congressman Armey, the second top Republican in Congress, said, in a free society, we would not have Medicare; we would not want something like Medicare. Whatever that meant.…”