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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCongressman Suggests Pushing Nation To Default Unless Obama Slashes Health Care Coverage For Seniors
As Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) push the Republican party to shut down the government in a bid to defund the Affordable Care Act, some House Republicans are hoping to use the coming fight over raising the nations debt limit as leverage to score structural reforms to entitlement programs.
During an interview with Minnesota Public Radio on Friday, Rep. John Kline (R-MN), Chairman of the the Committee on Education and the Workforce, hinted that Republicans should refuse to raise the debt ceiling unless President Obama agrees to raise the eligibility age for the Medicare program, keeping millions of younger seniors from receiving health care coverage.
I think the real answer to the debt limit is to get some agreement from Senate Democrats and more specifically the White House that youve got to do something about entitlements, Kline said in a reference to Social Security and Medicare.
In particular, Kline is interested in ideas such as a higher retirement age.
When asked whether its appropriate to push for such complex changes with just weeks to go before the federal government runs out borrowing room, Kline said, yes.
I think its a better place to have this fight, he said
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/09/23/2665961/congressman-wants-to-hold-the-debt-ceiling-hostage-to-kicking-some-seniors-off-of-medicare/
sinkingfeeling
(51,501 posts)over $250,000.
glowing
(12,233 posts)Turbineguy
(37,427 posts)about "death panels". They don't want the competition.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)I do recognize and care that other Seniors need and want their benefits. These people are jerks who only care about themselves.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)K & R
wandy
(3,539 posts)What demand will follow.
What would they demand after that!
And the next time!
DemocracyInaction
(2,506 posts)ACA would be just the beginning if Dems play ball with them. SS, Medicare, all regs on business would be immediately taken hostage. There would be nothing but handouts to the rich left. These animals have to be stopped and destroyed.