Robert Packwood said "Health care reform is key to reducing the federal deficit and keeping it down. In fact, throughout last year's budget debate, the president made it clear that he was proposing a two-pronged attack on our nation's deficit. The first step had been presented in his budget plan (primarily increased taxes); the second step would come in health care reform, which would, once and for all, control federal health care entitlements, and therefore, the federal deficit. ``We need to bring the deficit down to zero,'' President Clinton said. ``To do that, we have to pass health care reform.'' By the time the president's health care proposal reached Congress in late October, however, money ``saved'' from reforming federal health care programs was being earmarked not for deficit reduction but for extending coverage to the uninsured." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordJanuary 26, 1994

Health care reform is key to reducing the federal deficit and keeping it down. In fact, throughout last year's budget debate, the president made it clear that he was proposing a two-pronged attack on our nation's deficit. The first step had been presented in his budget plan (primarily increased taxes); the second step would come in health care reform, which would, once and for all, control federal health care entitlements, and therefore, the federal deficit. ``We need to bring the deficit down to zero,'' President Clinton said. ``To do that, we have to pass health care reform.'' By the time the president's health care proposal reached Congress in late October, however, money ``saved'' from reforming federal health care programs was being earmarked not for deficit reduction but for extending coverage to the uninsured.

Said by

Robert Packwood

Republican · Oregon

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Packwood discusses the implications of health care reform on the federal deficit.

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