Reply #76: You are seeing what you want to see - Pouffle did not say that - a reporter did [View All]

[karynnj]

What I think is significant in the actual Pouffle comments is that they put raising taxes back on the table. They also protect social security. I wish they went as far as Senator Kerry's words in a great LTTE on Medicare.

YOUR APRIL 6 editorial “Ryan’s Medicare plan is unfair — but at least he has one’’ ignored the fact that the Senate already walked the walk, casting tough votes to extend the life of Medicare. The Affordable Care Act strengthened Medicare by extending the solvency of the trust fund from 2017 to 2029, the largest extension in history. It produced more than $500 billion in savings over the next decade, reduced drug costs for seniors, and provided free preventive services to reduce costly care later.

We saved Medicare billions by eliminating wasteful overpayments while reducing beneficiary premiums. We did it without cutting a single benefit and by strengthening access to primary care.

We’re testing the most promising models of payment reform that reward the quality of care delivered instead of the quantity of tests ordered and services performed.

More difficult decisions remain to tackle deficits and revive Clinton-era balanced budgets. But that too will require both political parties putting the next generation ahead of the next election.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/04/07/senate_has_walked_the_walk_on_medicare_reform/

In 4 short paragraphs, he makes the point that Medicare is solvent until 2029 - and that the payment reform being tested might produce more long term savings for Medicare, Medicaid and healthcare in general.

The fact that SS and Medicare are solvent IF THEY GET ALL THE MONEY FROM THE DEDICATED PAYROLL TAXES means that it is wrong to cut them, steal the money and pay for things that should be paid for by general revenue. That money, from a more regressive tax should not be used to pay for more cuts in the progressive income tax.