Sherrod Brown: “I stand in support of the motion which instructs conferees to abandon the privatization provisions in the House…”

“I stand in support of the motion which instructs conferees to abandon the privatization provisions in the House prescription drug bill. Under H.R. 1, Medicare would end as we know it. Medicare would end in 7 years. In 7 years Medicare would be replaced by a voucher to cover part of the premium for health insurance and costs would be shifted from the government to seniors. That is privatization pure and simple. Mr. Speaker, we should not be surprised that Republicans want to privatize Medicare. Look at the history. In 1965 when Medicare came to a vote on the House floor, on the key vote on the key part of the bill, only 11 Republicans, 11 Republicans supported the creation of Medicare.”