Owens Sets Sights on Medicare
Owens Sets Sights on Medicare
Pushes President’s Plan to Pay for Healthcare Takeover on the Backs of Seniors
Washington- When Bill Owens signaled his support for his party’s healthcare agenda, he sent a loud and clear message to central and northern New York seniors that he’s eager to dig into their Medicare coverage in order to pay for a reckless government healthcare takeover. The President has already tacitly endorsed a plan that would cut half a trillion dollars from Medicare, including nearly $200 billion from Medicare Advantage:
“Mr. Obama claimed he can finance universal health care without adding ‘one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period,’ in large part by pumping money out of Medicare. The $880 billion Senate plan he all but blessed this week would cut Medicare by as much as $500 billion, mainly by cutting what Mr. Obama called ‘waste and abuse.’” (Wall Street Journal, “Medicare for Dummies,” 9/11/09)
Shortly after the President’s address to a joint session of Congress, Bill Owens came out in support for his party’s anti-seniors agenda:
“I support the President’s efforts to pass real health insurance reform. We can’t continue to ignore the problems that exist with our health insurance industry and I join his call for action to address the broken system currently in place.” (Newswatch 50, “Owens Issues Statement on Health Insurance Reform,” 9/10/09)
Apparently Owens’ idea of ‘reform’ includes targeting the nearly three million New York seniors who are enrolled in Medicare in order to pay for his party’s latest government takeover (Source: State Health Facts).
And in the eleven counties that help comprise New York’s 23rd Congressional District, over 31,000 seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage – one of the President’s top targets – could see their healthcare coverage significantly affected (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
“Bill Owens’ willingness to shortchange seniors in order to pay for his party’s reckless healthcare agenda speaks volumes about where his priorities would lie in Washington,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “At a time when seniors are more concerned than ever about their healthcare coverage, Owens has endorsed a plan outright that will pay for a government healthcare takeover by cutting critical funds from Medicare. By backing the President’s anti-seniors agenda, Bill Owens has sent a loud and clear message to the folks in central and northern New York who rely on Medicare: Brace yourselves.”
Now that Bill Owens has finally managed to take a stance on his party’s healthcare takeover, his would-be constituents are well aware that he’s ready and willing to fall in line behind his party’s anti-seniors agenda.
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