Medicare Trustees

* Re “Trustees Deny Urging Massive Medicare Cuts,” Oct. 6:

I wonder how many others caught the small article buried inside The Times? It was about how four government trustees of the Medicare system testified that they had recommended cutting only $89 billion from Medicare growth over the next 10 years to keep it solvent--not the $270 billion the Republicans said was recommended in their proposal. Simple math tells me that this is $181 billion, or 67%, more they want squeezed from Medicare recipients than needed.

More smoke and mirrors to cover up spending for other pet projects, Mr. Gingrich?

EVELYN M. BENTLEY

Los Angeles