As Situation Worsens, Dems’ Plan to Bankrupt Medicare Cuts Larger Benefits

May 13, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Dan Boren (OK-02), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Jay Inslee (WA-01), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), David Wu (OR-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)
As Situation Worsens, Hochul’s Plan to Bankrupt Medicare Cuts Larger Benefits
Democrat Stands By Plan Requiring Massive Benefit Cuts When Medicare Runs out of Money

Washington — A new report released today by the Medicare trustees demonstrated that the program needs to be protected and saved more than ever, but under New York Democrat Kathy Hochul’s plan the program would simply run out of money and trigger huge benefit cuts to seniors. Instead of recognizing this pressing concern, Hochul and her fellow Democrats continue to lodge misleading attacks against plans that protect Medicare for current seniors and save it for future generations for their own short-term political gain.

“Kathy Hochul may try to cover up her plan to let Medicare run out of money and trigger massive slashes to benefits for New York seniors who depend on the program, but the facts are crystal clear,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “These new numbers demonstrate more than ever that Hochul’s own Democrat plan is increasingly out-of-touch and disastrous. New York families deserve a representative who will fight to clean up Washington’s fiscal mess while protecting programs like Medicare for future generations.”

Medicare’s trustees released a new report today showing that action is needed to save the program as the financial situation continues to worsen:

“The annual checkup said that the Medicare hospital insurance fund will now be exhausted in 2024, five years earlier than last year’s estimate. The new report says that the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted in 2036, one year earlier than before.”

“The trustees for the trust funds said in their annual report that the worsening financial picture emphasized the need for Congress to make changes to avoid disruptive consequences in the future for millions of people who depend on health and pension benefits.” (Stephen Ohlemacher, “Trustees: Worsening picture for benefit programs,” Associated Press, 5/13/11)

The Democrat budget plan conspicuously let’s Medicare run out of money, which could trigger immediate slashes to benefits:

“If the trust funds run out, the programs no longer would be able to pay full benefits. … Medicare could pay 90% starting in 2024, dropping to 75% in 2045.” (Richard Wolf, “Medicare, Social Security running out of money faster,” USA Today, 5/13/11)

Although these new reports show Medicare needs more help than ever, Kathy Hochul continues to stand by the Democrat budget which would simply let it run out of money and trigger disastrous benefit cuts. The partisan attacks lobbed by Hochul and her Democrat leaders will unfortunately do nothing to save Medicare and protect it for future generations.

As Situation Worsens, Dems’ Plan to Bankrupt Medicare Cuts Larger Benefits http://ow.ly/4U6Km #madeinwdc

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