Political Quotes

“The fact is the gentleman is absolutely correct. It was we Republicans who led in this Congress for several issues before we even got to Medicare. We are the ones that said we want to roll back the 1993 unfair tax on Social Security when we passed that bill in the House. We are the ones that said that seniors under 70 should earn more than $12,800 without having deductions from their Social Security. In fact, that legislation will allow them to make up to $30,000 a year without any deductions for Social Security. Third, we are the ones who said we read the report from the President's trustees saying that Medicare was going to run out of funds in 7 years. So we came up with a proposal, which we hope the Congress will eventually adopt and the President sign, which does several things that you outlined: No. 1, eliminate the $30 billion in fraud, abuse and waste by going through the Attorney General's office and working with the HHS Inspector General to make sure we root out that waste; give a 10-year penalty for those who violate the law. No longer can you be a provider. And put those savings back into health care for seniors. No. 2, make sure that the minimum education for the indirect and direct costs for interns and residents which is now part of Medicare be a separate line item, fully funded but not part of taking dollars away from seniors. No. 3, let us reduce the cost of the paper work, 12 percent cost now in Medicare, just on paper work.”