Senate Democrats: We Will Not Let GOP Cut Medicare - HuffPo

[JohnWxy]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/14/senate-democrats-medicare-cuts_n_876980.html

WASHINGTON -- Medicare benefits should not be cut as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling, Senate Democrats said on Tuesday, drawing a firm distinction with Republicans who have called for major changes to the program.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) rebuked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for his hard-line stance on Medicare after the top Republican senator said he will only support a final debt ceiling deal if it makes changes to the program.

McConnell and all but five senate Republicans voted in support of the House budget plan written by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), which transforms Medicare into a voucher-like program for future seniors.

"Basically is saying that if he can't dismantle Medicare all at once, he wants to do it in pieces," Schumer said. "We will not let him succeed."
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[lbrtbell]

1. The Dems had BETTER stick to their guns on this one

Medicare is too popular with people (=voters). The Repubes got away with scaring people out of their support for health care reform because it was an unknown factor, and thus vulnerable to being portrayed as something it's not. Medicare, on the other hand, is a well-known and much-liked program.

If the Dems cave on Medicare, they're toast.

[toddwv]

2. You know...you here something like this "& think "Yes! They're going to put up a fight."

Unfortunately, it probably won't be long before we get the word that the putting up a fight? Eh...not so much. We did, however, send a sternly worded letter to the Speaker of the House!

I would just love to see the Dems actually try to seize the momentum and make the Republicans squeal like piggies. Instead, we'll probably get compromise that looks an awful lot like capitulation.