Wexler Bill Protecting Medicare from Cuts Passes House of Representatives

(Washington, DC) Congressman Wexler’s legislation repealing Medicare’s disastrous 45 percent rule was passed on August 1st, 2007 by the House of Representatives as part of the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007. Congressman Wexler has opposed the 45 percent rules since its passage in by the Republican Congress in 2003 because of the disastrous impact it could have on Medicare beneficiaries. The 45 percent rule requires the President to submit to Congress a plan to cut Medicare spending when Medicare trustees predict that government revenues must be used to pay up to 45 percent or more of total program costs. As the the Republican Congress predicted, this trigger has in fact been reached, and without the passage of Rep. Wexler’s bill, Medicare could have faced potentially drastic cuts by the Bush Administration.

“The 45 percent rule is nothing more than an arbitrary measure that poses a significant threat to Medicare beneficiaries. It is a ploy by the Bush Administration to push their ultimate goal of Medicare privatization and entitlement reform,” Rep. Wexler said. “I strongly believe that Congress must review the true needs of Medicare beneficiaries before mandating cuts to the health care system that millions of our seniors depend on.”

Congressman Wexler’s legislation is part of his ongoing effort to expand and protect access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Wexler reaffirmed his commitment to finding solutions that both strengthen Medicare’s finances and protect the health benefits that our seniors rely on.

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Congressman Wexler is Chairman of the Europe Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Judiciary Committee; and he also sits on the Financial Services Committee.

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