As liberal U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and his fellow Washington Democrats continue to demagogue the important issue of Medicare reform, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) today reminded Montanans that Tester is the only candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana who voted into law a bill that will ration health care and cut Medicare by $500 billion – which he did by giving President Barack Obama the deciding 60th vote to ram ObamaCare into law.
“Despite his political posturing, voters know Jon Tester voted for ObamaCare, which rations health care for seniors and cuts Medicare by $500 billion,” said NRSC spokesman Chris Bond. “Senator Tester’s decision to ignore Montana voters and cast the deciding 60th vote for ObamaCare’s tax hikes and Medicare cuts will be a key issue as he prepares to face Montanans at the polls next year.”
Background Information:
The Independent Payment Advisory Board Was Created By ObamaCare As A Means To Control Medicare Costs. “The Independent Payment Advisory Board was created by the 2010 health care law. Last month, in releasing his deficit-reduction plan, President Obama called for increasing the panel’s authority, saying it was critical to controlling the costs of the program, estimated at $524 billion in fiscal 2010.” (Bara Vaida, “Controversial Health Board Braces For Continued Battles Over Medicare,” The Washington Post, 5/8/11)
- The IPAB Will Make Recommendations To Reduce Spending In Medicare. “Beginning with fiscal 2015, if Medicare is projected to grow too quickly, the IPAB will make binding recommendations to reduce spending.” (Bara Vaida, “Controversial Health Board Braces For Continued Battles Over Medicare,” The Washington Post, 5/8/11)
“Republicans And Some Democrats Have Denounced The IPAB, Saying It Will Be Made Up Of Unelected Bureaucrats Who Will Wind Up Rationing Care To Medicare Beneficiaries.” (Bara Vaida, “Controversial Health Board Braces For Continued Battles Over Medicare,” The Washington Post, 5/8/11)
Republicans And Democrats Want To Eliminate The IPAB, Saying It Would Usurp Congresses Spending Power Over Medicare. “But not only do Republicans and some Democrats oppose increasing the power of the board, they also want to eliminate it altogether. Opponents fear that the panel, known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board, would usurp Congressional spending power over one of the government’s most important and expensive social programs.” (Robert Pear, “Bipartisan Objection To Panel To Curb Medicare Costs,” The New York Times, 4/20/11)
Pennsylvania Democrat Allyson Schwartz Said Medicare Spending Decisions Should Not Be Left To An Unelected Board. “Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz, a Pennsylvania Democrat prominent on health care issues, said: ‘It’s our constitutional duty, as members of Congress, to take responsibility for Medicare and not turn decisions over to a board. Abdicating this responsibility, whether to insurance companies or to an unelected commission, undermines our ability to represent our constituents, including seniors and the disabled.’” (Robert Pear, “Bipartisan Objection To Panel To Curb Medicare Costs,” The New York Times, 4/20/11)
Democrat Congressman Pete Stark: “Why Have Legislators?” “‘Why have legislators?’ asked Representative Pete Stark of California, the senior Democrat on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health.” (Robert Pear, “Bipartisan Objection To Panel To Curb Medicare Costs,” The New York Times, 4/20/11)
- Pete Stark (D-CA): “But, In Its Effort To Limit The Growth Of Medicare Spending, The Board Is Likely To Set Inadequate Payment Rates For Health Care Providers, Which Could Endanger Patient Care.’” (Robert Pear, “Bipartisan Objection To Panel To Curb Medicare Costs,” The New York Times, 4/20/11)
The Democrats’ 2010 Health Care Bill Made Cuts To Medicare And Medicare Advantage
The Health Care Bill Cut Medicare By Roughly “$500 Billion Over The Next Decade.” “To cover the cost of those changes, the compromise would impose a 3.8 percent Medicare tax on investment income for wealthy taxpayers, a levy that would come in addition to a Senate-proposed increase in the regular payroll tax for those families. And it would slice an additional $60 billion from Medicare, with the privately run program known as Medicare Advantage targeted for particularly deep cuts, bringing the total reduction in projected spending on the program to more than $500 billion over the next decade.” (Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane, “House Leaders Announce $940 Billion Health-Care Compromise Bill,” The Washington Post, 3/19/10)
A Report By The Chief Medicare Actuary Said That Medicare Advantage Programs Will Be Cut By Roughly 50 Percent In The Health Care Bill. “The study, by the chief Medicare actuary, Richard S. Foster, provides a detailed, rigorous analysis of the law. . . . In his report, Mr. Foster made these points: . . . Cuts in federal payments to private Medicare Advantage plans will ‘result in less generous benefit packages,’ the report said. By 2017, it said, ‘enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans will be lower by about 50 percent, from its projected level of 14.8 million under the prior law to 7.4 million under the new law.’” (Robert Pear, “Health Care Cost Increase Is Projected For New Law,” The New York Times, 4/23/10)
