Thomas Daschle: “The resolution is entitled ``Protecting Medicare and Medicaid.'' The important part of the resolution simply says…”

“The resolution is entitled ``Protecting Medicare and Medicaid.'' The important part of the resolution simply says: Therefore, be it Resolved by the 1995 White House Conference on Aging to support policies that: Address problems facing the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the context of broad-based health care reform, as the President has proposed; Oppose massive cuts soon to be considered in Congress; Prohibit the use of savings in Medicare and Medicaid for tax cuts for well-off citizens. I think it is very important that everyone understand the ramifications of the proposals to cut Medicare in the budget resolution. It would simply be the largest insurance rate hike in Medicare history. The plan would cost $900 per person in additional out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients by the year 2002, a total of about $3,500 over the next 7 years. We cannot accept that. I do not believe that the vast majority of the American people will accept it. Certainly, if this resolution is any indication, senior citizens across the country, represented by the White House Conference on Aging, will not accept it as part of our budget, as part of any plan relating to Medicare reform this year.”