Pelosi Reiterates Dems’ Plan to Slash Medicare Benefits
Democrat Party Leader: House Democrats Won’t Protect Medicare for Seniors or Future Generations
Washington — House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi admitted Thursday that Mike Ross will continue with his plan to let Medicare go bankrupt forcing massive cuts in benefits. Previously, Ross and his Democrat allies have simply criticized efforts to save Medicare without offering their own plan. Now, we know Ross and Pelosi’s plan is to force benefit cuts to enrollees when the program runs out of money in 13 years.
“Mike Ross and his Democrat leaders are continuing their Washington political games in which they demagogue plans to save Medicare in order to distract voters from their own flawed policy to destroy it,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “What Ross won’t say is that he is willing to let Medicare go bankrupt, ending the program and forcing massive benefit cuts for the seniors that rely on it.”
Nancy Pelosi reiterated the Democrats’ plan to let Medicare run out of money and essentially end:
“That’s from Nancy Pelosi, who called me from Wisconsin, where she’s holding events today defending Medicare in Paul Ryan’s back yard. On the call, Pelosi laid out a message on Medicare she hopes Dems will use for β well, forever.”
(Greg Sargent, “Nancy Pelosi: `We have a plan. It’s called Medicare.'” The Washington Post‘s The Plum Line Blog, 5/19/11)The new forecasts by Medicare’s trustees show the program is deteriorating, and will require cuts to benefits when it runs out of money in 13 years:
“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)“If the trust funds run out, the programs no longer would be able to pay full benefits. β¦ 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)
As Medicare’s trustees point out, Ross’ Democrat plan to let the program run out of money will have serious consequences for the people who rely on it. As Ross and his fellow Democrats continue to relentlessly attack comprehensive solutions, it should be noted their own plan would have by far the most disastrous consequences.
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