edicare in Missouri is in trouble and Sarah Steelman has refused to stand up for seniors and middle class families, refusing to answer questions about her position. It has been nearly two weeks since Republicans in Washington voted to end Medicare, Sarah Steelman's silence sends a disturbing message to all Missourians about the kinds of priorities she would represent.
“Sarah Steelman’s refusal to take a position on the Republican plan to destroy Medicare proves she has the wrong priorities when it comes to Missouri’s seniors and middle class families. The Republican plan to kill Medicare and hand out tax breaks for oil companies and billionaires could not be more misguided and dangerous. Missouri families need someone who has the courage to stand up and protect Medicare, not a politician who is reluctant to even take a position,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Sarah Steelman is quietly telling Missourians who she will stand up for in Washington, and it’s most definitely not Missouri seniors or the middle class.”
Background:
· Wall Street Journal: GOP Plan Would “End Medicare.” According to the Wall Street Journal, “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/04/11]
· The GOP Budget Would Cut $1.4 Trillion In Benefits For Seniors, Families And Those In Nursing Homes, While Shifting Huge Burdens To State Governments. [Democrats.Senate.Gov, 4/07/11]
· CBO: Beneficiaries Would Pay More Under Ryan’s Plan Than Under Traditional Medicare. “Under the proposal, most beneficiaries who receive premium support payments would pay more for their health care than if they participated in traditional Medicare under either of CBO’s long-term scenarios.” [CBO, 4/05/11]
· Seniors Would Pay Twice as Much Than Under Current Medicare Coverage. According to analysis by the Center for American Progress, under the Ryan budget seniors would pay twice as much out of pocket as they would under the current Medicare plan. The analysis found “In 2022 65-year-olds would be forced to pay twice as much for care than they would under Medicare: $12,500 compared to $6,150.” [americanprogress.org, 4/12/11]
· Budget Office: GOP Medicare Plan Could Lead To Rationing. According to an NPR report, the CBO report on the GOP budget proposal warns that the plan could lead to rationing of care. [NPR, 4/06/11]
· Plan's Author: Budget Will Not End Subsidies. When challenged by Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace about whether his budget will include reductions in oil and gas subsidies like the President’s Fiscal Commission did, Ryan responded that “we don't have a tax problem." [Fox News Sunday, 4/3/11]
Sarah Steelman has remained silent on the Republican plan to end Medicare. [Crickets, 4/26/11]
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