Seascapes question on eliminating Medicare

[coadie]

Could you share the House and Senate bill numbers to eliminate medicare. If you don't mind, also name the sponsors. I haven't found it happening.

My fathers medicare reimbursement was lowered by 10% in December. I suppose Obama did that. Is it Obama that is squeezing it out?

[sandie]

Originally Posted by coadie

Could you share the House and Senate bill numbers to eliminate medicare. If you don't mind, also name the sponsors. I haven't found it happening.

My fathers medicare reimbursement was lowered by 10% in December. I suppose Obama did that. Is it Obama that is squeezing it out?

That's too bad for your father, Coadie. But, I don't see the democrats in congress caring much about that now or in the future.

[coadie]

I suspect we will wait a while for House and Senate bill numbers. It may be years before we have legislation written to wipe out Medicare.

[Seascapes]

Republicans opposed the creation of Medicare. When the Medicare legislation passed in July 1965, the majority of Republican Senators voted against both Senate passage of Medicare and the final conference report. [Congressional Record, 7/9/1965; Social Security Administration, accessed 9/16/2009]

GOP called Medicare “brazen socialism.” During the 1965 Medicare debate, Republican Senator Curtis of Nebraska voiced GOP opposition to the program and said Medicare “is not needed. It is socialism. It moves the country in a direction which is not good for anyone, whether they be young or old. It charts a course from which there will be no turning back….It is not only socialism – it is brazen socialism.” [Congressional Record, 7/8/1965]

· GOP insisted Medicare would not rely on doctors to “make the program work.” Senator Curtis also warned that Medicare would result in the program “not relying on the advice of the medical association or doctors collectively to make the program work,” insisting that “the insurance industry has a remarkable record” and that Medicare “is not public welfare. It is not charity. It is not kindness. It is socialism. Socialism is not the answer to anything.” [Congressional Record, 7/8/1965]

· GOP predicted patients would suffer under Medicare. On the House floor, Representative Hall (R-MO) stated “...we cannot stand idly by now, as the Nation is urged to embark on an ill-conceived adventure in government medicine, the end of which no one can see, and from which the patient is certain to be the ultimate sufferer.” [Congressional Record, 4/8/1965]

Reagan Administration focused on cutting Medicare benefits. In his book The Politics of Medicare, Thomas Marmor outlines the pillars of President Reagan’s health policies, including “…cutting benefits, in particular through increased cost-sharing for Medicare and Medicaid recipients…” [Marmor, 2000, p. 108]

· GOP said Medicare stood out “like a sore thumb.” In discussing the federal budget, Senator Dole acknowledged that Congress was unlikely to include substantial funding cuts, but seemed to encourage President Reagan to propose them. Of cuts included in the federal budget, Senator Dole said, “Maybe some, but not much. That doesn’t mean the president may not suggest cuts because our big problem in government is non-defense entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and we’re going to have to address them. Medicare stands out like a sore thumb.” [United Press International, 12/12/82]

· GOP argued Medicare cuts would not hurt elderly. Republican Senator Gramm argued that significant cuts to Medicare would not affect beneficiaries, saying, “People are confused because when you say ‘Medicare’ you think of mama… Don’t think of mama, think of doctors and hospitals.” [United Press International, 11/5/85]

· GOP targeted Medicare for cuts. When asked what programs he would consider cutting, Senator Domenici, who at that time served as the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, said, “You have to go to programs like farm support, like Medicare, and many of the other programs that have grown rather broadly.” [Chicago Tribune, 11/2/87]

George H. W. Bush Administration proposed increased cost-sharing, reduced reimbursement. In 1992, the Bush Administration introduced a plan calling for “increases in the premiums and copayments for which the elderly were financially responsible…increases in private insurance premiums for supplementary Medicare policies (Medigap), such changes, the Congressional Budget Office estimated, would have increased the elderly’s spending on health care from 7 percent of their incomes to nearly 12 percent by 1997.” [Marmor, 2000, p. 125]

Republican Presidential candidate Dole bragged about his vote against Medicare. In 1995, after Medicare had successfully lifted millions of seniors out of poverty and assured them access to affordable health care, then-Senate Majority Leader Dole continued his party’s opposition to Medicare. In a 1995 speech to the American Conservative Union while campaigning for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, Dole boasted, “I was there, fighting the fight, voting against Medicare…because we knew it wouldn't work in 1965.” [Washington Post, 10/26/1995]

Newt Gingrich wanted Medicare to “wither on the vine.” Then-Speaker of the House Gingrich, in remarks to a Blue Cross Blue Shield conference on October 24, 1995, said of Medicare, “Now, we don't get rid of it in round one because we don't think that that's politically smart, and we don't think that's the right way to go through a transition. But we believe it's going to wither on the vine because we think people are voluntarily going to leave it -- voluntarily.” [New York Times, 7/20/1996]

Dick Armey wanted to “wean” seniors from Medicare. In a 1995 meeting with reporters, then-House Majority Leader Dick Armey said, “We need to wean our old people away from Medicare.” [Newsday, 12/09/2006]

Republicans Work to Put Their Wrongheaded Ideas into Action

Republicans have voted against protecting, strengthening Medicare nearly 60 times in the past ten years. In the past decade, Congress has taken serious steps to improve and strengthen Medicare for America’s seniors and Senate Republicans have stood in the way. In the past decade alone, Senate Republicans refused to support protecting, strengthening and enhancing Medicare for America’s seniors, voting against measures that achieved those goals at least fifty-nine times. [Senate Roll Call Votes, Congressional Record, 2008: S.V. 169, S.V. 160, S.V. 149; 2007: S.V. 132; 2006: S.V. 71, S.V. 50, S.V. 49, S.V. 5; 2005: S.V. 342, S.V. 302, S.V. 297, S.V. 294, S.V. 287, S.V. 60; 2003: S.V. 259, S.V. 258, S.V. 257, S.V. 254, S.V. 253, S.V. 251, S.V. 250, S.V. 249, S.V. 246, S.V. 245, S.V. 244, S.V. 242, S.V. 241, S.V. 240, S.V. 239, S.V. 236, S.V. 234, S.V. 233, S.V. 232, S.V. 230, S.V. 229, S.V. 227, S.V. 173, S.V. 82, S.V. 63, S.V. 21; 2002: S.V. 199, S.V. 186; 2001: S.V. 137, S.V. 122, S.V. 117, S.V. 66; 2000: S.V. 206, S.V. 195, S.V. 186, S.V. 162, S.V. 144, S.V. 65, S.V. 53; 1999: S.V. 229, S.V. 79, S.V. 76, S.V. 66, S.V. 59]

Only Republican Senators voted against strengthening Social Security and Medicare. During debate on the 2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act, only Republicans voted against an amendment offered by Senator Conrad to establish a Social Security and Medicare lock box to protect both Social Security and Medicare surpluses from being raided to pay for other programs or tax breaks. [S.V. 162, 6/29/2000; Senate Budget Committee, accessed 9/25/2009]

Only Republicans believed that tax cuts for the rich were more important than Medicare. During debate on the Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Resolution, only Republicans voted against an amendment offered by Senator Kennedy to reduce tax breaks for the rich and use those funds for Medicare. [S.V. 66, 3/25/1999]

In July, Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO) said in a radio interview, “You could certainly argue that government should have never gotten into the health care business.” [Radio interview with The Eagle 93.9, accessed 9/20/2009]

The following month, RNC Chairman Steele said, “The reality of it is that, you know, this single payer program known as Medicare is a very good example of what we should not have happen with all of our health care.” [Newsweek, 8/25/2009]

Who Can Seniors Trust?

America’s seniors should ask themselves who they can trust on Medicare issues. Republicans, who have opposed Medicare since its creation, but who want seniors to believe they’ve had a recent change of heart? Or Democrats, who fought to create Medicare, supported the program and worked to improve it for more than four decades, and who continue to focus on the health care needs of America’s seniors.

http://dpc.senate.gov/docs/fs-111-1-128.html

[sandie]

Oh for crying out loud.
How on earth does that monstrosity of a copy and paste job answer the question Coadie asked you, seascapes?

And nothing in that says republicans want to eliminate medicare. Though the democrats are cutting 500 billion from the program.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by sandie

Oh for crying out loud.
How on earth does that monstrosity of a copy and paste job answer the question Coadie asked you, seascapes?

And nothing in that says republicans want to eliminate medicare. Though the democrats are cutting 500 billion from the program.

What were the numbers of the House and Senate bills to terminate Medicare was the question.

Must be a strawman hidden under a snow drift that holds the answer.

[Seascapes]

coadie asked, Could you share the House and Senate bill numbers to eliminate medicare. If you don't mind, also name the sponsors. I haven't found it happening.

You check out the website for yourself, you do your own research. The above post told you and the rest of the people that read this, just how the republicans feel about Medicare. Now they want you to believe they have a change of heart, but we must beware of such hypocrisy and their lies.

The republicans doesn't care for the poor, only the rich and padding their own pockets. This has been proven out in the past, just ask someone that is 75 or older how our country has been. Oh also, that are not in the $100k bracket.

Below is the votes that has taken place in the Senate, here are the numbers, you do your own research.

[Senate Roll Call Votes, Congressional Record, 2008: S.V. 169, S.V. 160, S.V. 149; 2007: S.V. 132; 2006: S.V. 71, S.V. 50, S.V. 49, S.V. 5; 2005: S.V. 342, S.V. 302, S.V. 297, S.V. 294, S.V. 287, S.V. 60; 2003: S.V. 259, S.V. 258, S.V. 257, S.V. 254, S.V. 253, S.V. 251, S.V. 250, S.V. 249, S.V. 246, S.V. 245, S.V. 244, S.V. 242, S.V. 241, S.V. 240, S.V. 239, S.V. 236, S.V. 234, S.V. 233, S.V. 232, S.V. 230, S.V. 229, S.V. 227, S.V. 173, S.V. 82, S.V. 63, S.V. 21; 2002: S.V. 199, S.V. 186; 2001: S.V. 137, S.V. 122, S.V. 117, S.V. 66; 2000: S.V. 206, S.V. 195, S.V. 186, S.V. 162, S.V. 144, S.V. 65, S.V. 53; 1999: S.V. 229, S.V. 79, S.V. 76, S.V. 66, S.V. 59]

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Seascapes

coadie asked, Could you share the House and Senate bill numbers to eliminate medicare. If you don't mind, also name the sponsors. I haven't found it happening.

You check out the website for yourself, you do your own research. The above post told you and the rest of the people that read this, just how the republicans feel about Medicare. Now they want you to believe they have a change of heart, but we must beware of such hypocrisy and their lies.

The republicans doesn't care for the poor, only the rich and padding their own pockets. This has been proven out in the past, just ask someone that is 75 or older how our country has been. Oh also, that are not in the $100k bracket.

Below is the votes that has taken place in the Senate, here are the numbers, you do your own research.

[Senate Roll Call Votes, Congressional Record, 2008: S.V. 169, S.V. 160, S.V. 149; 2007: S.V. 132; 2006: S.V. 71, S.V. 50, S.V. 49, S.V. 5; 2005: S.V. 342, S.V. 302, S.V. 297, S.V. 294, S.V. 287, S.V. 60; 2003: S.V. 259, S.V. 258, S.V. 257, S.V. 254, S.V. 253, S.V. 251, S.V. 250, S.V. 249, S.V. 246, S.V. 245, S.V. 244, S.V. 242, S.V. 241, S.V. 240, S.V. 239, S.V. 236, S.V. 234, S.V. 233, S.V. 232, S.V. 230, S.V. 229, S.V. 227, S.V. 173, S.V. 82, S.V. 63, S.V. 21; 2002: S.V. 199, S.V. 186; 2001: S.V. 137, S.V. 122, S.V. 117, S.V. 66; 2000: S.V. 206, S.V. 195, S.V. 186, S.V. 162, S.V. 144, S.V. 65, S.V. 53; 1999: S.V. 229, S.V. 79, S.V. 76, S.V. 66, S.V. 59]

The above are votes for what exactly?

So you admit the Republicans have not started legislatiion to end Medicare?

[aegsm76]

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/cha...conservatives/

http://richiericher.wordpress.com/20...-conservatism/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ity-poll_N.htm

SS - please go educate yourself on who cares about the poor and who does not. Conservatives/Republicans give more of their income to charity than Democrats.
If you do not believe the links I have posted, then go do a search by looking for "charitable giving by party". The results will surprise you.
I regularly give at least 20% of my income to the church or charities.

It is very easy to be generous with someone else's money.

[sandie]

Originally Posted by coadie

The above are votes for what exactly?

So you admit the Republicans have not started legislatiion to end Medicare?

Now Coadie, she did the research that proved nothing and now she wants us to do the research. sheesh....try and stay up....