Should Kerry remind voters he voted to cut Medicare spending?

sfecap

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Fri Nov-28-03 03:19 AM
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Should Kerry remind voters he voted to cut Medicare spending?

"The debate’s high point came when Kerry no fewer than six times pressed Dean to answer the question of whether as president he would seek to reduce the rate of growth of Medicare.

Dean deftly avoided giving a direct answer, at one point changing the topic by saying, “What I intend to do in Medicare is to increase reimbursements for states like Iowa and Vermont....”

Kerry refused to let go, saying, “You still haven’t answered the question.”

Reporters had no better luck in the post-debate spin room. When one reporter asked Dean again whether he’d reduce Medicare’s growth rate, Dean replied, “I said Medicare was off the table, cuts in Medicare are off the table.”

How about the rate of growth? the reporter persisted.
“Cuts in Medicare are off the table,” Dean repeated.

Balanced Budget Act - Conference Report

Bill Number: HR 2015
Issue: Budget
Date: 07/31/1997
Sponsor:

Roll Call Number: 0209
Conference report adopted
Full Member List

Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.

Vote to adopt the conference report on a bill to provide for a balanced budget by 2002. The bill reduces spending by $270 billion over 5 years, including reductions of $115 billion in the rate of growth of Medicare spending, and $140 billion in discretionary spending reductions. The bill includes $24 billion in block grants to the states to provide health insurance to uninsured low income children, partially funded by an increase in the tobacco tax; restores Medicaid and SSI benefits to children as well as legal immigrants in the country before the passage of the welfare reform bill; expands Medicare preventive care coverage; and expands the type of health plans available to Medicare recipients including allowing some Medical Savings Accounts, among other provisions.

HR 2015: The Balanced Budget Act

Vote to adopt the joint House-Senate conference report of the bill to balance the budget by 2002 by reducing spending by $270 billion over five years. The bill includes provisions to reduce the rate of growth of Medicare spending by $130 billion over five years, mainly through reducing reimbursements to health care providers. It also increases Medicare preventive care coverage, including mammograms for women over 40, and expands the kind of health plans available to Medicare recipients, including allowing up to 390,000 people to choose Medical Savings Accounts. Over five years the bill increases Medicare Part B premiums up to $60 per month, provides $1.5 billion to help low income people pay their Medicare premiums, and reduces Medicaid spending by $13 billion. The bill provides $24 billion to the states for health insurance for low income uninsured children, partially financed by a gradual 15-cent increase in the tobacco tax. The bill restores SSI and Medicaid coverage to disabled children, and to legal immigrants who were in the country before the passage of the 1996 welfare reform act. The bill also requires discretionary spending reductions of $140 billion over five years, among other provisions.
(Conference report adopted 85-15 on 7/31/97)

Bill Status:
Bill Number: HR 2015 - 105th Congress (1997-98)
House Passage Vote: 06/25/97 - Outcome: Passed
Senate Passage Vote: 06/25/97 - Outcome: Passed
House Conference Report Vote: 07/30/97 - Outcome: Passed
Senate Conference Report Vote: 07/31/97 - Outcome: Passed
Presidential Action: Signed on 08/05/97
Public Law Number: 105-33 111 Stat. 251

http://vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=1392&can_id=S0421103