Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, you know, we are still hearing blame for Bush and blame for the Republican-controlled House from the Democrats. The Speaker of the House has been a Democrat for right at 3 years now. It is time to take responsibility. We keep hearing that word ``responsibility.'' This is a good time to take it.

Now, we heard about the PAYGO rules that were passed, and now it is going to be PAYGO. And I tell you what, it didn't apply. It wasn't used like it should have been. And then in July, some of my Democratic colleagues convinced me that, you know what, we are really, really, really serious this time about PAYGO. Just vote with us. We'll show you how serious we are. I was one of 24 Republicans that voted for the PAYGO bill. But then we find out, no, no, no, this time we are really, really, really, really serious about PAYGO if you'll just pass it again this time. Come on now.

The docs do need a fix, but we don't need lectures on this side about the seniors not needing cuts when the bill that is before the House, that passed the House, is going to cut Medicare $400 billion or so.

Let's fix the problem for the doctors permanently. They deserve that. Let's not stockpile more debt on our grandchildren irresponsibly. We can do it, but this is not a permanent fix as some have said; otherwise, it wouldn't have a year limitation on it. Let's do the right thing by seniors, by doctors and our grandchildren and vote this one down and really, really, really get serious about PAYGO.

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