Looks like Florida's Marco Rubio is supporting the Ryan plan to end Medicare as we know it

[flpoljunkie]

My email response from Senator Rubio regarding Ryan's budget plan.

Dear _________,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me to express your concerns about Medicare. I understand this is an important issue and I appreciate hearing your thoughts. The Medicare program is a central issue to many Floridians, as more than 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries currently reside in the state and rely on Medicare for health care and health security.

As your elected representative, I have made a commitment to tackle our nation's debt by cutting federal spending, reducing the deficit, and making necessary reforms to our entitlement programs. Medicare is currently facing substantial financial challenges which must be addressed in order to protect current and future generations of Americans. This year, Medicare expenditures amount to approximately $491 billion of net government spending, or about 3.8% of our nation's gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Congressional Budget Office, Medicare is growing at unsustainable rates, and unless major changes are made, the program's financial instability "could lead to reduced access to care or diminished quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries".

We must confront the reality that Medicare is on an unsustainable path and changes must be made. Individuals currently receiving Medicare benefits and those who are approaching retirement age (55 or older), should not and will not be subjected to any changes. But for younger generations, the Medicare program must change or it will no longer exist by the time they become eligible for benefits.

As Congress continues to debate important issues surrounding our country's growing debt and out-of-control government spending, I will continue to listen to Floridians while working to ensure that Americans continue to have access to Medicare benefits. Again, thank you for writing to me with your concerns and I look forward to hearing any views or input you wish to share in the future.

[jenmito]

1. Good. That's something to remind people of in '16. n/t