Republicans facing tough questions over Medicare overhaul in budget plan
All but four GOP House members voted for the budget plan devised by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The proposal puts the future of Medicare in jeopardy and could be risky political move. (April 15)
By Peter Wallsten
WashPost
Friday, April 22, 8:35 PM
Anxiety is rising among some Republicans over the party’s embrace of a plan to overhaul Medicare, with GOP lawmakers already starting to face tough questions on the issue at town hall meetings back in their districts.
House leaders have scheduled a Tuesday conference call in which members are expected in part to discuss strategies for defending the vote they took this month on a budget that would transform the popular entitlement program as part of a plan to cut trillions in federal spending.
Democrats, eager to win back the seniors and independents who abandoned the party in last year’s midterm elections, have declared the vote a “moment of truth” and this week launched a media campaign accusing GOP House members of dismantling Medicare and endangering retirees.
The assault has taken some Republicans by surprise, prompting concerns that the party is ceding ground in a policy debate that GOP strategists already viewed as perilous.
(More here.)
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2 Comments:
Never let it be said that John Kline doesn’t meet with his constituents … assuming that you don’t have a 9-5 job and are willing to drive to the outskirts of his district …
PRESS RELEASE : John Kline (R-MN-02) has scheduled a public town hall style meeting for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, at the Red Wing Public Library.
On the MN Political Roundtable, there is a post asking for questions to be suggested.
For example :
Where’s the Replace in Repeal and Replace Healthcare Reform ?
Why has Kline’s staff salaries increased by over $200,000 over six years ?
What cuts will Kline make in Education funding to fulfill his goal of full funding for school districts to provide public education for children with disabilities ?
Should ethanol subsidies be terminated to reduce gasoline pump prices ?
That's disgraceful and it needs to stop. We need to get all private money out of our election system. Then we can fix our health care mess and all the other areas that our pay-to-play government has screwed up. Health care should be a publicly owned and operated activity like national defense. The national importance and sheer scope of the tasks involved make that the most efficient approach, as Canada, Britain and many other European nations have discovered. Their systems are not perfect, but they're much better than the U.S. mess, which ranks very poorly globally in terms of efficiency. The only reason the current corporate model is maintained in the U.S. is because the corporations contribute heavily to politicians at every level.
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