Political Quotes

“I would just add that this isn't just my opinion about these cost overruns in the legislation. Here is a Wall Street Journal article from a few days ago: ``Two-thirds of $214 billion cost would be financed through higher deficits. . . . '' That is the subheadline on that. The headline is: ``Senate Wrangles Over Medicare-Payments Fix.'' So I don't think there is any real doubt about that. The article goes on to say: The deal reached by House leaders would shift some of those costs onto Medicare beneficiaries-- So some of the Medicare benefits, such as Part C, are not part of trust fund money. It is not paid for when you have that withholding from your paycheck, and people with higher incomes probably ought to pay a higher percentage of the cost that they can reasonably afford, if they have a higher income, when they go see a doctor. I think we could use that. But at any rate, this bill would shift some costs to Medicare beneficiaries. The article continues-- while providers such as hospitals also would shoulder some costs. So they are paying for some of these costs by having reduction in payments to hospitals that are hurting this year. And the article states: The rest would be financed through higher deficits. No doubt about it.…”