Political Quotes

“I rise today to introduce timely legislation with Senators Baucus and Pryor that addresses the problem of Medicare fraud and abuse. The two bills, entitled the ``Medicare Anti-Fraud Act of 1996'' and the ``Medicare Restore Trust Act of 1996,'' would undertake serious and strong anti-fraud efforts by the Federal Government based in large part on the success of the administration's recent Medicare and antifraud effort called Operation Restore Trust and ensure that savings achieved from such efforts are returned to the Medicare trust fund. Mr. President, we have heard in the last few days some very troubling reports about the impending insolvency of the Medicare trust fund. This legislation would have two direct contributions to reversing that move toward insolvency. First, it would suture a hemorrhage of funds out of the Medicare trust fund which today are going for fraudulent bills, and not for service to American citizens; and, second, it would assure that any funds that were recovered as a result of these more effective investigations and prosecutions would go directly back into the Medicare trust fund in order to restore its financial base. Mr. President, unfortunately the phrase ``fraud, waste and abuse'' has become discredited. It has been used so often as an excuse for not dealing with the more difficult and fundamental problems. Unfortunately, the area of Medicare waste, fraud, and abuse is a part of the fundamental problem.”