FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 1995
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) today voted against both the GOP plan to slash Medicare spending by $270 billion, and the Democratic substitute that would cut Medicare by $90 billion.
"The Democratic Medicare plan only fixed half of the problem," Peterson said. "If all you want to do is restore the trust fund, the $90 billion from the Democratic leadership is sufficient, but it doesn't go far enough if you're serious about controlling spending and balancing the budget.
"If you want to restore the solvency of the trust fund, balance the budget, and pay for a tax cut, the $270 billion from the Republicans is necessary, but it is much more than necessary to balance the budget.
"Right in the middle of those two plans was the one crafted by The Coalition, which I co-chair," Peterson continued. "The Coalition's plan restored the solvency of the trust fund and balanced the budget, but it didn't include a tax cut.
"The GOP Medicare plan is unnecessary, unworkable, and unfair. It places undue burden on rural areas, and could force many rural hospitals to close. The Coalition plan spread the sacrifice among all providers and beneficiaries. But, this plan wasn't even allowed to come to the House floor for a vote.
"The American people should listen to what we in the Coalition are saying today, because the political parties here in Washington are not," Peterson said. "We believe that what we are proposing is what the American people really want, and it's unfortunate that Members of the House weren't allowed to vote on that."