Clinton, GOP Clash on Medicare Birthday

WASHINGTON —  Like relatives squabbling at a birthday party, President Clinton and Republicans marked the 30th anniversary of Medicare on Saturday by accusing one another of putting the program’s future at risk.

Surrounded by senior citizens, Clinton used his weekly radio address to charge that Republican congressional leaders were offering a fix for Medicare that would put elderly Americans “in a fix.”

Republicans continued their counterattack, saying Clinton had offered no plan to keep the Medicare trust fund from going broke.

Rep. Barbara F. Vucanovich (R-Nev.), in the GOP response to Clinton’s address, said: “There aren’t too many birthday celebrations left for Medicare unless we act now.

“While President Clinton and many Democrats in Washington are content to celebrate Medicare’s 30th birthday by reminiscing about its past, Republicans are committed to securing Medicare’s future.”

With Americans living longer and health care costs rising, Medicare and its sister Medicaid program for the poor are the fastest growing part of the federal budget. Trustees say Medicare’s hospital fund will go broke in the year 2002 without corrective action.

Clinton’s plan to balance the budget in 10 years would save at least $124 billion in Medicare spending over its first seven years by paying less to hospitals and doctors. He would not reduce health benefits.

Republicans, who want to balance the budget in seven years, would save $270 billion over that period, reducing Medicare spending for recipients and providers.