GOP Congressman Admits Romney/Ryan Would ‘End Medicare As We Know It’

[trailmonkee]

Source: think progress

During the fourth and final debate between incumbent Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) and his Democratic challenger, Tammy Duckworth, the Republican Congressman openly admitted that he and his GOP colleagues want to “end Medicare as we know it.”

Walsh defended the Romney/Ryan plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program, which would provide retirees with a depreciating premium support credit to purchase private insurance or traditional Medicare. Duckworth pointed out that Obamacare reforms extend the solvency of the Medicare program by a decade — and reminded Walsh of his unabashed support for Paul Ryan’s budget, which guts the core Medicare entitlement. And Walsh admitted that Duckworth’s assessment of Ryan’s plan was right:

DUCKWORTH: [Congressman Walsh] voted three times for the Ryan budget which will end Medicare as we know it. That is not my comment — that is the Wall Street Journal that says it will end Medicare as we know it. He wants to put seniors the street with a voucher. And he wants to go even further than the Ryan budget. He wants to eliminate the prescription drug benefit. Do you think that’s going to save Medicare? You want seniors to pay more for Medicare? You want seniors to pay more for prescription drugs? That’s not a single senior has come up to me and said that.

EDDIE ARRUZA (MODERATOR): Quickly, Mr. Walsh, respond.
WALSH: Ms. Duckworth says end Medicare as we know it. What the Chicago Tribune and every other responsible person has said if we don’t end it as it is, it’s going end all by itself — we won’t preserve it for future generations. We have to do that.

Watch It:

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/10/19/1047981/joe-walsh-admits-gop-wants-to-end-medicare-as-we-know-it/

[PatSeg]

1. There is something seriously wrong with that man

I don't know if he has psychological problems or some kind of addiction, but he always looks like he is about to explode or melt down. It had to be really uncomfortable sitting so close to him.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. The Republican defense for cutting Medicare:

"If we don't cut it now, we'll have cuts in the future".

When LBJ introduced Medicare as part of his "Great Society", Republicans swore they'd kill it if it took 100 years. Now, barely 50 years later, Republicans want us to put them in charge of Medicare. Trust them, they say, they absolutely love Medicare and are only concerned people aren't getting enough from the Democrats.

Might as throw in welfare, food stamps, and The National Endowment For The Arts as well and watch them "strengthen" those programs too.

I used to disagree with Republicans, but now they make me want to puke.

[Swede Atlanta]

3. Joe Walsh is seriously ill........

The Ryan budget does NOT allow seniors to keep traditional Medicare on a prospective basis. The summary I read inferred that seniors on Medicare at the effective date of the budget would remain on the current program until their deaths but that seniors approaching retirement age would be forced into the private insurance market with "premium support". I believe there was some allowance for seniors that came to retirement age within 5 years of the legislation having the option of going onto traditional Medicare or going to the "shark" market.

This guy is repeating the lies about Obama reducing funding for Medicare. It is the same amount Ryan's own budget removes from Medicare. But whereas Obama reduces it by getting concessions from providers without impacting benefits, Ryan's budget actually removes that amount of money and uses that to partially fund welfare for billionaires.

[toby jo]

4. Tammy's great

I gave to her campaign today - really pulling for her

[Politicub]

5. Yet senior citizens support him en masse. Crazy.

What also gets me is romney's line about how people over 65 won't see a change in benefits. The people who vote for him based on this could give two shits about Medicare being there for their kids and grand kids.

[Tx4obama]

6. K&R n/t