McCAIN Plans - MASSIVE - Cuts to Medicare & Medicaid (WSJ)

[kpete]

* OCTOBER 6, 2008

McCain Plans Federal Health Cuts
Medicare, Medicaid Spending Would Be Reduced to Offset Proposed Tax Credit
By LAURA MECKLER

John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs.

..............

The Republican presidential nominee has said little about the proposed cuts, but they are needed to keep his health-care plan "budget neutral," as he has promised. The McCain campaign hasn't given a specific figure for the cuts, but didn't dispute the analysts' estimate.

In the months since Sen. McCain introduced his health plan, statements made by his campaign have implied that the new tax credits he is proposing to help Americans buy health insurance would be paid for with other tax increases.

But Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Sen. McCain's senior policy adviser, said Sunday that the campaign has always planned to fund the tax credits, in part, with savings from Medicare and Medicaid. Those government health-care programs serve seniors, poor families and the disabled. Medicare spending for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 is estimated at $457.5 billion.

more at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html

[rateyes]

1. G.O.P.

G.ouge
O.ld
P.eople

[stray cat]

2. and employer based health care....and presumably the evil SS

[hisownpetard]

3. I guess McCain's 96-year-old mother doesn't have to worry about Medicare payments,

but millions and millions of other people's mothers do. What an uncaring imbecile he is,
to choose that as a program that can afford to be cut.

Says a lot about the man, doesn't it?

[FrenchieCat]

4. McCain just committed political suicide!

[Lint Head]

5. "Blame the poor and kill people." That is the mantra of all Re-Pubic-Rats.

Prove me wrong. I welcome it. :dem:

[nc4bo]

11. Blame the poor AND disabled. The mentally and physically disabled come in all

income brackets - some are not poor but a disability could be enough to sink their entire life into oblivion.

Strokes, Alzheimer's, mental retardation, brain injury, any physically disabling injury or mental impairment, blindness and don't forget the dependents of anyone who has paid into the system. Dependents are qualified for benefits through a parent.

This can effect a lot of people and if Mccain is going to slash through Medicaid and Medicare, you betcha (sorry), he's going to go after SSI and DIB too. No one can tell me that he won't.

These programs are not just for the old and the poor, they are there for all of us.

We need to expand the idea that these programs only concern the old and poor. I wish there was more confirmation coming from Mccain about exactly what programs he plans to slash and burn.

More about SSI and DIB.

SSI
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html#part3

DIB
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/

[SurfingAtWork]

6. Oh my. If he didn't have a lock on the 55+ demo, he sure will now.

[TheCoxwain]

7. Is this being reported anywhere in TV? nt

[Cali_Democrat]

8. and McCain wants to waste trillions by continuing the Iraq War

Americans are of secondary importance.

:mad:

[thewiseguy]

9. My Friends, the spending is out of control

[RoadRage]

10. I started a post on this about 2 hours ago.. see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7331202&mesg_id=7331202 :hi:

[napi21]

12. I sure hope Obama/Biden push this to the forefront! If it's gets

KNOWN by the voters before they vote, McNuts guaranteed he just lost ALL THE SENIORS!

[4lbs]

13. Hmm... will Obama bring this up in tomorrow's debate on the economy...

or in the 3rd debate, which is about health care?

[Marsala]

14. Why not bring it up in both?

This is yet another trump card handed to us by McCain.