Ron Johnson

Unfortunately, in healthcare, only about 10 cents of every dollar is paid by the patient and 90 cents is paid by somebody else.

From my standpoint, if you're looking at how to fix Medicare, you've got to look at the root cause of problem.

I appreciate that. So just to make the point.

Even when the other side of the aisle, I've had the argument with Senator Van Hollen, we've never been able to generate much more than 18% of our GDP in tax revenue.

I think it is very important to every state, but clearly my state that we don't see a reduction in benefits for Social security and Medicare.

If we continue to run $2 trillion a year deficits the interest--interest costs for not just us--not just for the Federal debt, but for buying a house.

One thing we shouldn't be doing is ever talking about doing anything to reduce the benefits of Medicare and Social Security.

I would call it a fiscal crisis. You know, it is a slow moving train running right at us and it is, you know, Washington DC is not addressing it.

I think also you need to separate healthcare costs in terms of the catastrophic costs that need insurance and the non-catastrophic that people could pay for out of their pocket.

We're spending $1.9 trillion more this year than we did just four years ago.

If we're going to plus up those benefits, we're going to need revenue out of the general fund.

I would argue it--it obviously, hasn't made a dent because we still have climate change alarmists.

From my standpoint, if you're looking at how to fix Medicare, you've got to look at the root cause of problem.

I think Mr.--the--the Chairman and so many Democrats are pretty much one trick ponies. Whether the social security, whether it is Medicare, the only solution is increasing taxes.

Unfortunately, in healthcare, only about 10 cents of every dollar is paid by the patient and 90 cents is paid by somebody else.

My concern about government regulated transparency, it'll be fudged.

One thing we shouldn't be doing is ever talking about doing anything to reduce the benefits of Medicare and Social Security.

If we don't get the budget in control, is our interest expenses going to come down?

Nobody knows what anything costs in healthcare.

So just to make the point.

I think it is very important to every state, but clearly my state that we don't see a reduction in benefits for Social security and Medicare.

I would call it a fiscal crisis. You know, it is a slow moving train running right at us.

We're spending $1.9 trillion more this year than we did just four years ago.

If we're going to plus up those benefits, we're going to need revenue out of the general fund.

I would argue it--it obviously, hasn't made a dent because we still have climate change alarmists.