Why do Republicans want to get rid of Medicare?
Republicans in Congress wanted to hold the debt ceiling hostage to force benefit cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and even Social Security. If they can’t get these cuts by threatening the solvency of our nation, their next opportunity will come as Congress attempts to craft a deficit reduction plan to avoid the $110 billion in automatic cuts delayed in the fiscal cliff legislation.
Will Republicans cut Social Security and Medicare after tax cuts pass?
Jan 14, 2017 · Because Social Security and Medicare are government programs that work so well, the Republican elite — with its seemingly religious belief that the private sector is always the best — hates them. So obsessed are the Republicans in their desire to eliminate these effective government programs that the very first action that House Republicans took in the new …
Is this a Republican game plan to destroy Social Security and Medicare?
Answered 3 years ago · Author has 1.3K answers and 1.8M answer views. No. Doing so would be political suicide, as much of their voter base are receiving Social Security and Medicare. The Republican base has even begun to accept “Obamacare” as the status quo.
Are Republicans scheming to ‘take away’ Medicaid?
Feb 04, 2011 · In addition to ending Medicare, the Republican economic plan seeks to destroy the Social Security program. First, the Republicans would slash Social Security benefits by 16 percent and then a few years later by 28 percent – under the guise of restoring "solvency."
How much did Medicare cut in 2018?
Congressional Republicans proposed these cuts after passing a budget resolution last year that cut Medicare by $473 billion. The 2018 budget resolution passed by Republicans in December 2017 cut Medicare by $473 billion.
Did the ACA repeal the Medicare?
Congressional Republicans repealed several components of the ACA designed to help keep Medicare’s costs down, effectively driving up costs for the program. By repealing the requirement that most people have insurance, Congressional Republicans knowingly voted for a measure expected to increase the number of uninsured. The 2018 Medicare Trustees Report predicts that this increase will increase the share of subsidies paid to hospitals via Medicare. Similarly, by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board, Congressional Republicans took away a mechanism that slowed Medicare cost growth.
Can Medicare negotiate with drug manufacturers?
As the cost of drugs skyrocket, President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress will not allow Medicare to negotiate for better prescription drug prices. Under current law, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is explicitly prohibited from negotiating directly with drug manufacturers on behalf of Medicare Part D enrollees. Although it would decrease both federal spending and beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, a policy allowing the federal government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries was noticeably absent from President Trump’s recent prescription drug announcement.
Who is the Republican who slashed Social Security?
Robert Reich explains the longtime Republican plan to slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
How many people would lose health insurance?
Lawrence O’Donnell talks to Ezra Klein about the “catastrophic” CBO report – which estimates 22 million people would lose health care coverage – and GOP Rep. David Jolly shares his personal story of what happened when he found himself unemployed and uninsured. (June 26, 2017)
How much debt did the Bush administration have?
Under president Bush, Republicans ran up a huge debt of 10 Trillion Dollars. Now, they want to balance the budget on the backs of the poor and middle class, by cutting food stamps, social security, medicare and medicaid while refusing to cut military spending.
What do Paul Ryan and Republicans want to do?
Paul Ryan and Republicans want to give tax breaks to the rich and make the middle class & the poor pay for those tax breaks by increasing their taxes AND cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Did the Senate GOP draft a secret health care bill?
Senate GOP drafted a secret, partisan health care bill behind closed doors, refusing any meaningful bipartisan input on the bill and refusing to hold any hearings on this legislation that would impact one sixth of our economy. Senate Democrats today urged the GOP to reverse course on this tactic and release to the public the legislation that would impact the health and bottom lines of millions of Americans. (Jun 13, 2017)
Will Trump cut Medicare?
Despite Trump’s promises NOT to cut Medicare, Medicaid & Social Security, that is exactly what he intends to do IF he is re-elected in 2020.
Did Democrats succeed in keeping the benefit cuts out of the short term fiscal cliff?
Democrats in Congress succeeded in keeping these devastating benefit cuts out of the short-term “fiscal cliff” deal. Unfortunately, important leverage was also lost. Washington’s well-financed anti-entitlement lobby continues to pretend that “shared sacrifice” means that if a millionaire loses a tax break (which he or she doesn’t need and America can’t afford) then the middle-class and poor must also pay more for or risk losing their health care benefits in Medicare and Medicaid. [Source: http://ncpssm.org/EntitledtoKnow/entryid/1962/Cutting-Medicare-Medicaid-Social-Security-in-the-113th-Congress]
Why do Republicans hate Medicare?
Because Social Security and Medicare are government programs that work so well, the Republican elite — with its seemingly religious belief that the private sector is always the best — hates them . So obsessed are the Republicans in their desire to eliminate these effective government programs that the very first action that House Republicans took in the new Congress was to adopt a rules package that included a new rule that amounts to a stealth attack on Social Security and Medicare.
What are the Republicans' obsessions with Medicare?
The Republican Obsession With Dismantling Social Security And Medicare. Today’s Republicans want to avoid political accountability by destroying Social Security and Medicare without leaving clear fingerprints. The Republicans are desperate to destroy Social Security and Medicare. These two programs demonstrate government at its best.
What is the Republican claim that they are simply seeking to save Social Security and Medicare?
Republican claims that they are simply seeking to save Social Security and Medicare is the same Orwellian language used during the Vietnam War, when a military officer claimed that a village had to be destroyed in order to save it. Similarly, when today’s Republicans talk of “saving” Social Security and Medicare, ...
Why don't Social Security and Medicare go through the appropriations process?
Social Security — the people’s pension — and Medicare — the first step toward universal health insurance for all — do not go through the appropriations process because, as monthly pension payments and medical insurance, they must pay what is owed, not what Congress chooses to spend. If Social Security and Medicare were subject to the whims of every Congress, they would be radically transformed. No one could count on the benefits they had earned. Presumably with that goal in mind, the new rules require the relevant committees to make “recommendations for changes to existing law for moving [unspecified} programs…from mandatory funding to discretionary appropriations, where appropriate.”
Why does Medicare not go through the appropriations process?
Social Security — the people’s pension — and Medicare — the first step toward universal health insurance for all — do not go through the appropriations process because, as monthly pension payments and medical insurance, they must pay what is owed, not what Congress chooses to spend. If Social Security and Medicare were subject to the whims ...
What are the two programs that Republicans want to destroy?
The Republicans are desperate to destroy Social Security and Medicare. These two programs demonstrate government at its best. The federal government runs these two extremely popular programs more efficiently, universally, securely, and effectively than the private sector does with its alternatives — or indeed could, ...
What would happen if the Democratic Party could draw a clear distinction on this vital issue?
If the Democratic Party can draw a clear distinction on this vital issue, it can create a powerful wedge between the Republican elites and their base. If the base catches on and realizes who truly represents their economic interests, the next four years, difficult as they are going to be, will be followed by important progress for many years to come.
What are the causes of the shortfall in Medicare?
The trustees of Social Security and Medicare say that an aging Baby Boomer population, combined with lower fertility rates amongst younger generations are contributing to the funding shortfall.
When will Medicare become insolvent?
Experts say the cost of Medicare and Social Security will become insolvent within the next two decades. Medicare will become insolvent in 2026, according to the program’s trustees, and trust funds for Social Security will be depleted by 2034.
How much was spent on Social Security in 2018?
In fiscal year 2018, nearly half ($1.95 trillion) of federal spending was directed toward the major entitlement programs: $977 billion was spent on Social Security, $585 billion on Medicare and $389 billion on Medicaid.
Who said cuts to entitlements are needed to tackle the deficit?
Stivers was echoing the sentiments of party leaders like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who argue that cuts to entitlements are needed to tackle the deficit. “Frankly, it’s the health care entitlements that are the big drivers of our debt.
Who said the government has spent too much?
Instead of blaming the deficit on tax cuts, White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in September that the government has “spent too much” and that the White House would like to “slim that down as much as possible.”. “People are quick to blame deficits on tax cuts but I don’t buy that,” Kudlow said.
When did Paul Ryan talk about entitlement reform?
The Senate Democratic release includes two separate comments from House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in December 2017 talking about returning to entitlement reform in 2018.
Why didn't McConnell say entitlement reforms?
22, 2017, that he does not plan to bring up entitlement reforms in the current environment due to a lack of bipartisan agreement on the sensitive issue.
What is the wonky term for federal programs that automatically allocate benefits to qualified recipients?
The release goes on to cite specific comments by Republican leaders. These comments focus on changes to "entitlements, " the wonky term for federal programs that automatically allocate benefits to qualified recipients, rather than being dependent on Congress appropriating enough money every year. Entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid account for the largest share of the federal budget.
Did the Senate pass a bill that would have curbed Medicaid?
The House already passed a bill that would have curbed Medicaid, but it died in the Senate. And the Senate -- where Republicans have just a 51-49 edge in a chamber that requires 60 votes for most legislative business -- is expected to be a graveyard for legislation to rein in Medicare and Social Security.
Is a cutback the same as elimination?
Cutbacks aren’t the same as elimination. However, none of the proposals being weighed by Republican lawmakers would eliminate the programs. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., does not share Ryan's zeal for taking up entitlement changes.
Did Wyden say Republicans are taking away Medicare?
Wyden said, "Republicans in Congress are plotting to take away Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.". Some key Republicans, including Ryan, have long argued in favor of overhauling entitlement programs such as these by reducing the amount of money spent on them. However, no Republican proposal has been made to "take away" any ...
What would happen if Trump and his Republican Senate enablers succeeded?
If Trump and his Republican Senate enablers succeed, this would gut America’s Social Security and Medicare programs.
Who is taking aim at Medicare and Social Security?
Wayne Gilchrest: GOP takes aim at Social Security, Medicare. Now Republicans are coming after Social Security and Medicare with President Trump’s signature on an executive order that slashes the funding for these two programs.
How many Americans rely on the ACA?
More than 20 million Americans rely upon ACA for their healthcare coverage which protects against the threat of preexisting conditions. Like the deferred payroll tax deduction, the impact of the Republican case to kill Obamacare will not be felt until after the election, when the Supreme Court issues its decision.
Does Trump have the constitutional authority to do that?
But Trump does not have the constitutional authority to do that. He knows nothing about how our three branches of government work. He knows even less about the lives of people without golden toilets or multiple days off to golf. If Trump and his Republican Senate enablers succeed, this would gut America’s Social Security and Medicare programs.
Do Republicans want to publicize their support for slashing these programs?
Republicans don’t want to publicize their support for slashing these programs.
Is this election about park benches?
This election isn’t about park benches, ribbon-cuttings or heartwarming stories that they use to change the subject.
Is Medicare a benefit?
Social Security and Medicare are not “benefits,” — they are entitlements that working Americans have funded through decades of hard work by their own payroll tax deductions. Now, with the stroke of a pen, Donald Trump has deferred the payroll tax deduction so that workers can get bigger paychecks now - before an election.
