Statement by the President: Medicare

      THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

 For Immediate
Release                                                  March 24,
1999


    STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

            Today, the Senate Democrats introduced important amendments to
    address the major defect of the Republican budget: its complete failure to
    address Medicare.  The majorityO,s budget fails to set aside even one
    penny of the surplus to strengthen Medicare and does not extend its
    solvency by a single day.  Yet, Medicare faces the same demographic
    challenges as Social Security and is projected to become insolvent even
    sooner.  Instead of putting Medicare first, the Republican budget puts top
    priority on a tax cut that explodes in cost just at the time that baby
    boomers retire.

            I applaud Senate Democratic efforts to fix the Republican budget
    by putting a higher priority on strengthening Medicare and by making sure
    that any lock-box includes Medicare.   I urge Congress not to miss this
    historic opportunity to strengthen Medicare

    30-30-30