Merrimack Patch - Guinta Praises $3.8T U.S. FY16 Budget

By Tony Schinella

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-NH, released the following statements this week following the passage of a budget for Fiscal Year 2016, and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.

"Today, the House acted to pass a responsible, common-sense spending blueprint that addresses the drivers of our $18 trillion debt," he said. " This budget balances in less than 10 years, provides for a strong national defense, and restores the more than $700 billion cuts from Medicare while strengthening this vital program for our seniors. For far too long, Washington has maintained a "spend first, pay later' attitude. Granite Staters deserve better. You deserve an efficient and accountable government that spends your taxpayer dollars wisely. A balanced budget means a healthier economy; and, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to rein in our debt and deficit while growing our economy for all Americans."

The House of Representatives also passed H.R. 2 -- the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act -- a bipartisan bill to strengthen Medicare and establish the most significant structural entitlement reform in nearly two decades.

"Today, the House demonstrated its ability to effectively govern by reversing an 11-year trend of kicking the can down the road and offering short patches instead of dealing with the underlying problems with the Sustainable Growth Rate' or SGR. A promise made is a promise kept to our seniors; and, today the House took an important step to protect and preserve Medicare for current and future beneficiaries.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that H.R. 2 will save $900 million over 10 years by finally overhauling this flawed formula and replacing it with a more patient-centered system. These real, structural reforms will ensure access to quality care for Granite State seniors; and, I look forward to the Senate passing this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill to finally provide certainty for our seniors."

Congress had voted 17 times in the past 11 years to approve a "doc fix," a stop-gap measure that delays cuts in Medicare reimbursements to physicians.

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