Manchin fires warning shot on plan to expand Medicare

[riversedge]

Source: THE HILL



By Jordain Carney - 09/23/21 08:00 PM EDT




Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is firing a warning shot at progressives' hopes of using a sweeping social spending bill to expand Medicare, arguing Democrats should first focus on shoring up the program.

Manchin, leaving the Capitol after a vote on Thursday, was asked about expanding Medicare to cover hearing, vision and dental, something included in House Democrats' $3.5 trillion plan and being championed in the Senate by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

"I'll say this about Medicare: We need to stabilize it. By 2026, you understand the trust fund is going to be insolvent. ...I want to make sure we are stabilizing what we have before we start going down this expansion role," Manchin said.

Senate Democrats haven't unveiled their version of the sweeping spending bill, amid high-profile haggling over not only how big to go but disagreements on key provisions including clean energy, how to pay for the bill and how to address competing healthcare wishes. ...................................

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Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/573744-manchin-sends-warning-shot-on-plan-to-expand-medicare

[msongs]

1. macnchin's been a senator awhile, why has he not shored up medicare already? nt

[LakeArenal]

2. No shit. If Congress had paid back the money they "borrowed" from the fund it would be stable.

He’s such a Not Democrat.

[stopdiggin]

6. that a lazy barstool explanation

(not that I have anything in particular against barstools - just the sloppy discourse frequently associated)
The Medicare solvency issue has been around for years - and it has much more to do with basic fiscal measures and budget (math) - than it does with imaginary 'looting' of the funds.

https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/healthservices_etds/40/

Medicare, a United States social insurance program operated by the United States federal government, began operating in a deficit in the year 2010. More funding was expended than revenue received for medical care, creating significant shortfalls for the Medicare Trust Fund.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20201210.997063/full/

[PatrickforB]

16. This is why we need to raise taxes and start talking about why.

Same with Social Security. Lift the payroll tax cap and it becomes far more solvent than it is.

[Rebl2]

3. Good question

Some media type person should ask him why he hasn’t tried to shore up Medicare and social security by now.

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. What an awesome guy he is.

Just the best. The greatest. An amazing Senator.

[pazzyanne]

5. Is this the smiley you were looking for?

[BlueTsunami2018]

7. I didn't think it was necessary.

Since I’m not allowed to say what I really think, I just heap undeserved praise on him.

[PoliticAverse]

8. Manchin and Sinema seem to be pretty much "fair game" on DU these days. n/t

[MFM008]

13. they deserve to be

I would rather lose the senate than to have these two holding us hostage with their crap.
They already ARE republicans.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

15. Manchin is great at pointing out problems, terrible at suggesting solutions.

If the Senate wasn't 50-50 he would be put on "ignore."

[PSPS]

9. Allowing it to negotiate drug prices shaves $456 billion off its cost over 10 years

George W Bush plus the republican majority in 2003's house and senate inserted the sinister "non-interference clause" to pay off their Big pHarma donors.

[Mr. Evil]

10. I've had it!

I'm to the point where I just don't give a fuck anymore. This shit is never ending. Our government is beyond corrupt and the only reason most of them get up in the morning is they have new money to count. Or another giant corporation needs to have their money protected. We get shit.

Every day it's the same. All these doofus hicks talking about their research on Covid. Republicans doing anything they want with absolutely NO consequences. All these god damn God slobberers blathering about pro-life when in the next breath they squawk about killing someone. This must be the society everyone in Washington DC wants because I don't hear anyone screaming or fighting about having a decent society. And the MSM... All they want is the next clown slinging his own shit to interview.

No integrity
No ethics
No honor

[Mickju]

11. My contempt for this man grows daily.

[TomCADem]

12. The simple solution is to elect another Democrat senator so that we have some leverage.

Otherwise, you will always have the situation that a single Democratic Senator could torpedo a bill. Remember back when Bernie Sanders was throwing a wrench into efforts to reform health care, which caused the Democrats to lose leverage when Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts died in August 2009?

So, I prefer Manchin to any of the 50 Republican Senators. Heck, even so called moderate Susan Collins is now suddenly opposing efforts to protect a woman's right to choose.

[myohmy2]

14. "...was asked about expanding Medicare to cover hearing, vision and dental..."

...I give up...

...it's hopeless...

...

[NEOBuckeye]

17. What a little bitch

Fuck him already. And fuck Sinema too. We might as well hand things over to McConnell with these two RINOs and their buffoonery.