60 House Republicans Oppose Medicare Cut

President Bush’s plan to cut $36 billion from Medicare ran into stiff opposition from 60 Republicans in the House.

Bush has proposed trimming the money over five years from the federal health plan for the elderly, mostly by slowing payments to healthcare providers such as hospitals.

“Hospitals are not just a healthcare safety net for their communities but also anchor local economies. They also must stand ready to respond to natural disasters, pandemic diseases and the threat of terrorism,” the Republicans wrote in a letter made public on Capitol Hill.