Romney Worships 2011's False Idol: Paul Ryan | Common Dreams
Romney sides with Ryan to kill Medicare.
12/30/11
12/28/11
12/21/11
12/20/11
PolitiFact's 'Lie of the Year' is true
PolitiFact's 'Lie of the Year' is true
Politifact runs cover for the republicans and ends up losing all credibility.
Politifact runs cover for the republicans and ends up losing all credibility.
12/19/11
McConnell Takes Every Single Judicial Nominee Hostage To Sabotage Consumer Protection Agency
McConnell Takes Every Single Judicial Nominee Hostage To Sabotage Consumer Protection Agency: pOn Saturday, the Senate closed off what was supposed to be its last day of business for the year (the Senate may need to reconvene, now that Speaker John Boehner has blown up a deal to extend tax cuts to middle class Americans). Yet the Senate closed out the year without confirming any of the [...]/p
Majority Of Americans Oppose GOP Efforts To Cut Back Medicare, Social Security
Majority Of Americans Oppose GOP Efforts To Cut Back Medicare, Social Security: pRuy Teixeira argues that Republican candidates who are calling for the elimination — or significant reduction — of programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, may have a hard time attracting general election voters, who overwhelmingly support the safety-net initiatives. According to a Pew survey, “58 percent thought it was more important to keep Social [...]/p
Bachmann Issues Doomsday Warning To Tea Party Activists: ‘This Is Our Last Election’
Bachmann Issues Doomsday Warning To Tea Party Activists: ‘This Is Our Last Election’: pOn a conference call with Tea Party activists last night, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said she dreams of the day when Medicare will no longer be needed. Bachmann told the Tea Party Patriots “tele-forum,” which featured most of the Republican presidential candidates, that she wants to create a new health care system in which individuals [...]/p
12/16/11
Health Care Experts Warn That Wyden/Ryan Plan Will End Guaranteed Access To Care For Seniors
Health Care Experts Warn That Wyden/Ryan Plan Will End Guaranteed Access To Care For Seniors: pA group of progressive health care policy analysts are pushing back against the Wyden/Ryan Medicare reform plan this morning during an event at the Brookings Institute. The analysts — Urban Institue’s Judy Feder, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities’ Paul Van de Water, and Brookings’ Henry Aaron — will argue, in remarks obtained by [...]/p
Paul Ryan Convinces Ron Wyden To Support Greater Privatization Of Medicare
Paul Ryan Convinces Ron Wyden To Support Greater Privatization Of Medicare: pRep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) will unveil a new Medicare premium support plan during an event at the Bipartisan Policy Center this morning that is a stark departure from the Budet Committee Chairman’s proposal to end the traditional Medicare program that most Republicans voted for. Under the new bipartisan plan, beginning [...]/p
Paul Ryan has always been the "Destroyer of Medicare" now he has convinced one democrat to join him. Ron Wyden is a dishonest, corrupt coward who has turned his back on the seniors of Oregon.
Paul Ryan has always been the "Destroyer of Medicare" now he has convinced one democrat to join him. Ron Wyden is a dishonest, corrupt coward who has turned his back on the seniors of Oregon.
12/15/11
12/13/11
GOP: Raising Taxes On Millionaires A Non-Starter, But Hiking Taxes On Medicare Retirees Is A-OK
GOP: Raising Taxes On Millionaires A Non-Starter, But Hiking Taxes On Medicare Retirees Is A-OK: pThe Associated Press’ Ricardo Alonos-Zaldivar has this devastating take of the House GOP’s proposal to pay for a payroll tax cut by further means testing the Medicare program: Raising taxes on millionaires may be a non-starter for Republicans, but they seem to have no problem hiking Medicare premiums for retirees making a lot less. The [...]/p
12/9/11
Mitt Romney Goes After Gingrich: ‘We’re Going To Have To Make Changes Like The Ones Paul Ryan Proposed’
Mitt Romney Goes After Gingrich: ‘We’re Going To Have To Make Changes Like The Ones Paul Ryan Proposed’: pDuring a town hall in Cedar Rapids Iowa this morning, Mitt Romney doubled down on his support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) Medicare privatization plan, which would essentially eliminate traditional Medicare for all future enrollees and force them to buy private insurance with a voucher. “I spent a good deal of time with Congressman Ryan. [...]/p
12/8/11
Romney’s Attack On Newt: I Pledge To Get Rid Of Medicare Faster
Romney’s Attack On Newt: I Pledge To Get Rid Of Medicare Faster: pMitt Romney’s campaign is stepping up their attacks against current GOP presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich today over his criticism of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) Medicare privatization plan. In a press release to reporters, Gail Gitcho, Romney’s communications director, charged, “Speaker Gingrich’s attack on Paul Ryan’s plan as ‘right-wing social engineering’ – and then denying his [...]/p
BREAKING: GOP Filibusters Middle Class Tax Cut — Again
BREAKING: GOP Filibusters Middle Class Tax Cut — Again: pA bill to extend the payroll tax holiday failed in the Senate this afternoon after Republicans filibustered the extension for a third time, preventing it from getting the 60 votes needed to begin debate or receive an up-or-down vote. The latest bill would have paid for the extension of the holiday, which primarily affects middle [...]/p
12/7/11
Romney: Medicare May Not Be Guaranteed Every Year, If I’m President
Romney: Medicare May Not Be Guaranteed Every Year, If I’m President: pMitt Romney clarified his plan to partially privatize the Medicare program during an interview with the Washington Examiner’s editorial board Wednesday morning, suggesting that he would allow Congress to vote on the amount of “premium support” credits (or vouchers) seniors receive to buy health care coverage every year. Broadly speaking, like Paul Ryan, Romney seeks [...]/p
12/6/11
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12/2/11
12/1/11
Debunking The America’s Health Care System Is ‘Based On The Private Sector’ Myth
Debunking The America’s Health Care System Is ‘Based On The Private Sector’ Myth: pConservatives like to pretend that the United States enjoys the best private health care system in the world, where some may have trouble purchasing insurance coverage, but everyone has access to care when they absolutely need it. Case in point, Sarah Kliff’s interview this morning with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) about his support [...]/p
Democrats Introduce Bill To Protect Medicare From Sequestration
Democrats Introduce Bill To Protect Medicare From Sequestration: pThe Budget Control Act of 2011 includes a sequestration process that will make automatic cuts to domestic and defense spending in January 2013 unless Congress can agree on a proposal to lower the national deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years. Since the demise of the super committee, both parties have signaled their [...]/p
11/28/11
Affordable Care Act Lowering Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors
Affordable Care Act Lowering Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors: pSeniors — the demographic most skeptical about health care reform — are already benefiting from provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the Associate Press’ Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar reports, as the law gradually closes the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D. The coverage gap is the result of a political compromise in the Medicare Modernization Act of [...]/p
11/23/11
United States Still Number 1 … In Health Care Spending
United States Still Number 1 … In Health Care Spending: pA new Health at a Glance 2011 report finds — to nobody’s great surprise — that the United States is leading the world in health care costs, spending some $7,960 per person in 2009 or 2.5 times the average of the 34 other countries studied: The report attributes the difference to higher than average prices [...]/p
11/22/11
GOP Super Committee Co-Chair: Lawmakers Failed Because Democrats Refused To Privatize Medicare
GOP Super Committee Co-Chair: Lawmakers Failed Because Democrats Refused To Privatize Medicare: pRep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) faults the Democrats’ refusal to accept partial Medicare privatization for the super committee’s inability to come up with a bipartisan plan to lower spending in today’s Wall Street Journal. He writes, “Democrats on the committee made it clear that the new spending called for in the president’s health law was off [...]/p
11/18/11
Poll: Tea Party Voters Oppose Cuts To Medicare, Social Security
Poll: Tea Party Voters Oppose Cuts To Medicare, Social Security: pA new McClatchy-Marist Institute for Public Opinion poll shows 81 percent of voters oppose major cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The poll, which tests voters’ opinions of deficit cutting policies being considered by the super committee, found overwhelming opposition to such cuts within each demographic. Even supposedly anti-government Tea Party supporters opposed the cuts [...]/p
Too bad they voted for people who plan to destroy it.
Too bad they voted for people who plan to destroy it.
11/17/11
Report: Health Reform Could Save Families $2,161 Annually By 2020
Report: Health Reform Could Save Families $2,161 Annually By 2020: pHealth insurance premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased by 50 percent from 2003 to 2010 and will “rise 72 percent by 2020, to nearly $24,000″ if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act, a new report from the Commonwealth Fund concludes. Over the last seven years, premiums outpaced income growth in every state, as employees contributed an [...]/p
11/16/11
11/14/11
11/10/11
11/7/11
Four Problems In Mitt Romney’s Medicare Proposal
Four Problems In Mitt Romney’s Medicare Proposal: pThe Huffington Post’s Jon Ward has an interesting piece about Romney’s successful roll-out of his plan to partially privatize the Medicare program for future enrollees. Romney — who had leaked aspects of the proposal during interviews — met with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) before officially announcing his “premium support” proposal at the end of last [...]/p
11/6/11
10/31/11
10/30/11
10/29/11
10/28/11
States Cut Medicaid As Federal Stimulus Dollars Dry Up
States Cut Medicaid As Federal Stimulus Dollars Dry Up: pWith federal money drying up for Medicaid, states are shouldering a greater cost burden and making significant cuts to balance their budgets — just as the economic downturn is expanding the pool of eligible applicants. Since federal stimulus money ran out in June, states have spent 28.7 percent more this year on their Medicaid programs [...]/p
10/25/11
Perry Ditches Idea That Social Security Is Unconstitutional, Adopts Privatization Plan The Public Already Rejected
Perry Ditches Idea That Social Security Is Unconstitutional, Adopts Privatization Plan The Public Already Rejected: pTexas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) views on Social Security have been well-chronicled since he jumped into the Republican presidential primary in July. In the past, Perry has called Social Security unconstitutional and a Ponzi scheme, and in his first debate appearance, he called it a “monstrous lie.” Perry’s assertions were obviously incorrect, and he drew [...]/p
Why Mitt Romney’s Medicaid Cuts Are Even More Draconian Than Paul Ryan’s
Why Mitt Romney’s Medicaid Cuts Are Even More Draconian Than Paul Ryan’s: pMedicaid, which is funded jointly by the states and the federal government, provides health coverage to approximately 53 million lower income Americans. The federal government matches state spending on a per-claim basis and pays a percentage of each state’s Medicaid costs (anywhere between 50 and 75 percent). Conservatives like House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and [...]/p
10/23/11
Herman Cain Compares Social Security To Slavery
Herman Cain Compares Social Security To Slavery: pWhen it comes to Social Security, the pugilistic presidential contender Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) is normally the one attracting all the attention. After all, he called the program all sorts of names: A “Ponzi scheme,” a “monstrous lie,” and unconstitutional. But the new GOP front runner — pizza mogul Herman Cain — seems eager to [...]/p
10/20/11
Medicare Costs Could Wipe Out Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustment
Medicare Costs Could Wipe Out Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustment: pNext year, Social Security recipients will see a 3.6 percent increase in benefits, the first cost-of-living adjustment since 2009. Starting in January, the 55 million Social Security recipients will see their monthly payment grow by $43, or about $516 for the year. But increases in Medicare Part B premiums, which must pay for 25 percent [...]/p
10/19/11
Romney Offers More Details On Medicare Plan: ‘We’re Going To Give People Vouchers’
Romney Offers More Details On Medicare Plan: ‘We’re Going To Give People Vouchers’: pMitt Romney has praised Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) plan to privatize Medicare for future enrollees as making “important strides in the right direction” and promised that his own proposal “will differ” but “share those objectives.” During a discussion with the editorial board of the Las Vegas Review Journal earlier this week, Romney revealed that he [...]/p
10/17/11
How Herman Cain’s Social Security Privatization Plan Would Cause The Nation’s Debt To Explode
How Herman Cain’s Social Security Privatization Plan Would Cause The Nation’s Debt To Explode: p2012 GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain — when he’s not mangling the details of his own 999 tax plan — has been singing the supposed benefits of “the Chilean model” of Social Security privatization. Using the right-wing buzzword “personalization,” (instead of “privatization”) Cain claims that this model will provide a better deal for workers. As [...]/p
10/14/11
10/12/11
Health Insurers Fight To Hide Rate Increases From The Public
Health Insurers Fight To Hide Rate Increases From The Public: pHealth insurance companies planning sharp increases in premiums for their New York customers have submitted memos justifying their rate increases to state officials. However, they are fighting to keep those memos from the public, saying they contain trade secrets and that consumers wouldn’t be able to understand them. Benjamin Lawsky, the state superintendent of financial [...]/p
10/10/11
10/7/11
Why ‘Ryancare’ Is Far More Hostile To States Rights Than ‘Obamacare’
Why ‘Ryancare’ Is Far More Hostile To States Rights Than ‘Obamacare’: pYesterday, House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) predicted that the Supreme Court will embrace the meritless claim that the Affordable Care Act violates states rights and “knock down the individual mandate.” Yet, if there is one person who shouldn’t be hiding behind states rights arguments, it is Paul Ryan. The truth is that Ryan’s [...]/p
10/6/11
Rep. Rehberg: Eliminating Access To Health Insurance Is ‘Most Common Sense Path’ To Reduce The Deficit
Rep. Rehberg: Eliminating Access To Health Insurance Is ‘Most Common Sense Path’ To Reduce The Deficit: pRep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) is encouraging the Super Committee to reduce the national deficit by eliminating access to health care for lower-income families and significantly increasing costs for families earning between $29,000 and $44,000 a year. In a letter to the committee, Rehberg singles out the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of the Medicaid program and [...]/p
Rep. King Dismisses Affordable Care Act’s Closing Of the Medicare Donut Hole: ‘It Isn’t A Significant Piece Of Policy’
Rep. King Dismisses Affordable Care Act’s Closing Of the Medicare Donut Hole: ‘It Isn’t A Significant Piece Of Policy’: pRep. Steve King (R-IA) dismissed a key accomplishment in the Affordable Care Act – elimination of the Medicare donut hole – today, calling it “a minor part of this whole picture” and not “a significant piece of policy.” King made the comments to ThinkProgress following a Republican press conference on Capitol Hill today. The Iowa [...]/p
Corrupt and dishonest Rep. Steve King
Corrupt and dishonest Rep. Steve King
10/5/11
Mitt Romney Doesn’t Know A Medicare Cut When He Sees One
Mitt Romney Doesn’t Know A Medicare Cut When He Sees One: pYesterday, Mitt Romney addressed a group of demonstrators protesting Medicare cuts outside of a town hall in The Villages, Florida. “I saw some signs out there, you may have seen them, that said ‘Keep your hands off our Medicare’” Romney said, “By the way, there’s only one person I know of that has cut Medicare. [...]/p
10/3/11
The Affordable Care Act Case Is Probably Only The Second Most Important Health Care Case This SCOTUS Term
The Affordable Care Act Case Is Probably Only The Second Most Important Health Care Case This SCOTUS Term: pThe Supreme Court is very unlikely to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Several of the most conservative justices have joined or authored opinions that are wholly inconsistent with meritless arguments against health reform. And, while the Roberts Court shows no lack of enthusiasm for cutting back people’s rights, they typically do not do so [...]/p
9/28/11
9/26/11
9/24/11
Public Health Care Programs Kept Millions From Becoming Uninsured
Public Health Care Programs Kept Millions From Becoming Uninsured: pFor all of the GOP’s efforts to demonize and underfund public health care programs, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare have played an absolutely crucial role in filling the gaps in America’s very broken health care system. They’ve kept millions of people from becoming uninsured and have helped “offset the continuing decline [...]/p
Expanded Coverage, Better Patient Protections Mark First Year Of The Patient’s Bill Of Rights
Expanded Coverage, Better Patient Protections Mark First Year Of The Patient’s Bill Of Rights: pToday marks one year since the Affordable Care Act’s Patient’s Bill of Rights went into effect. The White House unveiled the regulations in 2010 to expand coverage and better control costs for patients before the full health care reform law goes into effect in 2014. And so far, people are seeing a difference, according to [...]/p
9/20/11
CHART: Where Obama’s Health Savings Come From
CHART: Where Obama’s Health Savings Come From: pThe bulk of the $320 billion in health care savings in President Obama’s new deficit plan come from the pharmaceutical industry and other providers, including rural hospitals, teaching hospitals, and biotechnology firms. Beginning in 2017, some Medicare beneficiaries will also pay more for coverage: individual seniors with a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of more [...]/p
Health Care Spending: It’s The High Prices
Health Care Spending: It’s The High Prices: pThe American political system is oddly resistant to this conclusion, but via Uwe Reinhardt here’s another study, this time from Miriam Laugesen and Sherry Glied, showing that America’s health care spending is so high largely because we pay such high per unit costs: Higher health care prices in the United States are a crucial reason [...]/p
Three Years After The Financial Crash, GOP Candidates Revive Desire To Privatize Social Security
Three Years After The Financial Crash, GOP Candidates Revive Desire To Privatize Social Security: pSince jumping in the race, GOP presidential front runner Gov. Rick Perry’s (TX) radical views on Social Security have garnered the most attention. And for good reason, as Perry lands far to the right of even his most right-wing opponents in calling the entitlement program a unconstitutional “Ponzi scheme.” A fan of secession, Perry even [...]/p
9/19/11
Obama’s Deficit Plan Calls For $248 Billion In Medicare Savings, Changing ‘The Way We Pay For Health Care’
Obama’s Deficit Plan Calls For $248 Billion In Medicare Savings, Changing ‘The Way We Pay For Health Care’: pAs Matt Yglesias points out, the big health care news in President Obma’s deficit plan is his willingness to put a line in the sand against cutting Medicare benefits without raising new revenue. But just as important is Obama’s commitment to reduce federal health care spending by modernizing the health care system — changing the [...]/p
Medicare, Health Reform A Mystery To A Majority Of Seniors
Medicare, Health Reform A Mystery To A Majority Of Seniors: pA majority of seniors do not understand Medicare, according to a survey by the National Council on Aging and UnitedHealthcare. In the confusion, many seniors are missing out on immense savings. Two-thirds of eligible seniors are unaware of the Extra Help program and the Medicare Savings Programs, for instance, which helps low-income seniors with insurance [...]/p
9/18/11
Paul Ryan Calls For Increasing Taxes On Middle Class But Dismisses Millionaires Tax As ‘Class Warfare’
Paul Ryan Calls For Increasing Taxes On Middle Class But Dismisses Millionaires Tax As ‘Class Warfare’: pRep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) resumed his attacks on President Obama’s economic policy Sunday morning, suggesting that the President’s plan to tax millionaires’ profits from capital gains in order to fund job creation efforts constitutes “class warfare”: RYAN: It adds further instability to our system — more uncertainty — and it punishes job creation and those people who [...]/p
9/17/11
Fatally Ill Woman Would Have Gone Bankrupt Without Protections Of Affordable Care Act
Fatally Ill Woman Would Have Gone Bankrupt Without Protections Of Affordable Care Act: pRoss Daniels, whose wife developed rare fungal infection that left her in rehab for days and almost killed her, speaks to the Des Moines Register about “what would have happened if portions of the new federal health care law had not been in place“: “His wife’s insurance had a million dollar lifetime cap on benefits. [...]/p
9/16/11
Defying GOP’s Doomsday Predictions, Medicare Advantage Enrollment Increases, Premiums Fall
Defying GOP’s Doomsday Predictions, Medicare Advantage Enrollment Increases, Premiums Fall: pAverage Medicare Advantage premiums will decrease by 4 percent in 2012 and enrollment in the program will grow by 10 percent, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today, undermining Republican claims that reductions in government payments to private insurers will devastate the program. Plan enrollment is “the highest overall enrollment of beneficiaries [...]/p
You Don’t Make Social Security More Solvent By Eliminating Its Funding Base
You Don’t Make Social Security More Solvent By Eliminating Its Funding Base: pTelevision hosts who like to ask Republican Party members politically charges questions about Social Security (you know who you are) really ought to take 10-20 minutes to think about how Social Security works, so that when faced with a superficially plausible answer, you can evaluate whether or not it actually makes any sense. So to [...]/p
Report: What Happens If The Tea Party Wins
Report: What Happens If The Tea Party Wins: pBefore President Obama entered the White House, there was a widespread consensus — even among leading conservatives — that the Constitution leaves most decisions to We the People and the leaders we elect. The election of a center-left president eager to move the nation in a progressive direction, however, killed many conservatives’ belief that democracy [...]/p
Say goodbye to Medicare and Social Security.
Say goodbye to Medicare and Social Security.
9/14/11
Privatized Social Security System Cited By GOP Candidates Works For The Rich, But Is ‘Very Bad’ For Everyone Else
Privatized Social Security System Cited By GOP Candidates Works For The Rich, But Is ‘Very Bad’ For Everyone Else: pDuring Monday night’s GOP presidential primary debate, several the candidates called for privatizing Social Security, with former corporate CEO Herman Cain pointing to a system of privatized accounts for government employees that was implemented by Galveston, Texas. “In 1981, the Galveston County employees, they opted out because that was a very short window of opportunity. [...]/p
9/13/11
Perry’s ‘Ponzi Scheme’ Kept 14 Million Seniors Out Of Poverty Last Year
Perry’s ‘Ponzi Scheme’ Kept 14 Million Seniors Out Of Poverty Last Year: pDuring last night’s GOP presidential primary debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry tried to walk a fine line between sticking to his characterization of Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme,” yet reassuring seniors that he doesn’t actually want to eliminate the program upon which so many of them depend. However, he ultimately fell back on the [...]/p
VIDEO: Rick Perry Calls Medicare And Social Security Unconstitutional
VIDEO: Rick Perry Calls Medicare And Social Security Unconstitutional: pAt last night’s CNN/Tea Party Republican presidential candidate’s debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) repeatedly refused to answer whether he still believes that Social Security is unconstitutional, but Perry wasn’t always so shy. Just last December, Perry addressed a group of conservative lobbyists and state lawmakers at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s National Policy Summit, [...]/p
VIDEO: Protestors At Florida Tea Party Debate Defend Social Security Against GOP Attacks
VIDEO: Protestors At Florida Tea Party Debate Defend Social Security Against GOP Attacks: pThinkProgress filed this report from the Republican debate in Tampa, Florida. Before yesterday’s Republican presidential debate began, 75 to 100 Floridians gathered outside to protest the Tea Party’s goals and defend Social Security against constant GOP attacks. Ever since Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) entered the race last month, dismantling Social Security has been a [...]/p
9/12/11
Memo To Rick Perry: Social Security Is Not Facing ‘Dire Financial Challenges’
Memo To Rick Perry: Social Security Is Not Facing ‘Dire Financial Challenges’: p2012 GOP hopeful Texas Gov. Rick Perry today penned a USA Today op-ed on Social Security, clearly trying to lay to rest some of the controversy surrounding his deriding the program as a “monstrous lie” and a “Ponzi scheme” ahead of tonight’s Republican primary debate. Tellingly, nowhere in the op-ed do those words appear, nor [...]/p
Rick Perry continues to lie about Social Security.
Rick Perry continues to lie about Social Security.
9/10/11
9/9/11
9/8/11
Conservative Social Security Critics Have Been Insisting 'The End Is Near' For Decades
Conservative Social Security Critics Have Been Insisting 'The End Is Near' For Decades
Which is a lie they keep telling so they can raid the Social Security fund.
Which is a lie they keep telling so they can raid the Social Security fund.
FLASHBACK: Mitt Romney Has Consistently Supported The Privatization Of Social Security
FLASHBACK: Mitt Romney Has Consistently Supported The Privatization Of Social Security: pFormer Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) set aside his front-running strategy at last night’s Republican presidential debate, attacking the race’s new front-runner, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, on a variety of issues, including Perry’s repeated assertions that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme” that won’t exist for younger Americans. In his 2009 book, Perry also questioned [...]/p
Health Reform Benefits: 18.9M Seniors Took Advantage Of Free Preventive Services, 1.3M Saved On Prescription Drugs
Health Reform Benefits: 18.9M Seniors Took Advantage Of Free Preventive Services, 1.3M Saved On Prescription Drugs: pNew data from the Department of Health and Human Services finds that thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more than 18.9 million seniors in Medicare have taken advantage of free preventive services and nearly 1.3 million “have received a 50 percent discount on their brand name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole, saving [...]/p
Health Care Reform = Jobs
Health Care Reform = Jobs: p“Since Massachusetts enacted the Health Care Reform Plan in early 2006, total health care employment per capita in the state has grown more rapidly than that in the rest of the country,” new research in the New England Journal of Medicine concludes. “From January 2001 to December 2005, employment per capita grew by just over [...]/p
9/7/11
Missouri GOP Wants To Raise Taxes On 100,000 Seniors And Disabled Citizens To Pay For Corporate Tax Break
Missouri GOP Wants To Raise Taxes On 100,000 Seniors And Disabled Citizens To Pay For Corporate Tax Break: pYesterday, Missouri lawmakers began a special session during which Republicans will try to pay for a business tax cut by eliminating a tax credit that benefits more than 100,000 senior citizens and disabled people. Missouri Republicans are just the latest in a long list of state legislatures that are funding more corporate tax breaks on [...]/p
Rep. Joe Walsh Calls For Shrinking Medicare Down To An Insurer Of Last Resort
Rep. Joe Walsh Calls For Shrinking Medicare Down To An Insurer Of Last Resort: pRep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) — a strong proponent of Paul Ryan’s Medicare privatization scheme — told students at Mundelein High School on Tuesday that he would support transforming Medicare into a “safety net” program of last resort for seniors with no other coverage options: But he spent the most time talking about the need to [...]/p
9/6/11
Romney’s Medicare Plan: It Will Be Similar, But Different From Paul Ryan’s Privatization Scheme
Romney’s Medicare Plan: It Will Be Similar, But Different From Paul Ryan’s Privatization Scheme: pMitt Romney unveiled his economic policy today and in case you’re wondering his position on Medicare reform is this: he’ll propose something that’s similar but different from Paul Ryan’s Medicare privatization scheme. ‘Medicare’ — one of the single biggest drivers of government spending — is mentioned just twice in the 88-page report: Any serious attempt [...]/p
9/1/11
Huntsman Proposes New Taxes On Seniors And Veterans To Pay For Tax Cut For The Richest 0.1 Percent
Huntsman Proposes New Taxes On Seniors And Veterans To Pay For Tax Cut For The Richest 0.1 Percent: pOur guest blogger is Seth Hanlon, director of Fiscal Reform for the Doing What Works project at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. 2012 GOP presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman is releasing an economic plan today that is as bad for the middle-class — and as nutty — as any proposed by his rivals. It [...]/p
8/30/11
Iowans Show Up At Rep. King’s District Office To Protest Vote To End Medicare
Iowans Show Up At Rep. King’s District Office To Protest Vote To End Medicare: pAfter a planned Rep. Steve King (R-IA) town hall was canceled this morning, a dozen protesters showed up at his Sioux City district office to voice their message anyway. ThinkProgress spoke with one of the Iowans, Ken Mertes, who said he was there to speak out against King’s vote to end Medicare. “The Ryan budget [...]/p
8/29/11
Perry Says Social Security Is No Longer A ‘Retirement Program’ But Simply A ‘Tax’
Perry Says Social Security Is No Longer A ‘Retirement Program’ But Simply A ‘Tax’: pThinkProgress filed this report from Ottumwa, Iowa. During a campaign stop in Ottumwa, Iowa this past weekend, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) continued his assault on Social Security, saying it was no longer a “retirement program” but has just “turned into a tax.” Perry is certainly no fan of Social Security. In his November 2010 [...]/p
Perry is a liar and he wants nothing more than the complete destruction of Social Security.
Perry is a liar and he wants nothing more than the complete destruction of Social Security.
Republicans trying to rewrite history on Medicare vote
Republicans trying to rewrite history on Medicare vote
Once again, republicans lie about what they have voted for and plan to do to Medicare.
Once again, republicans lie about what they have voted for and plan to do to Medicare.
Perry Says Social Security Is No Longer A ‘Retirement Program’ But Simply A ‘Tax’
Perry Says Social Security Is No Longer A ‘Retirement Program’ But Simply A ‘Tax’: pThinkProgress filed this report from Ottumwa, Iowa. During a campaign stop in Ottumwa, Iowa this past weekend, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) continued his assault on Social Security, saying it was no longer a “retirement program” but has just “turned into a tax.” Perry is certainly no fan of Social Security. In his November 2010 [...]/p
8/28/11
BREAKING: Perry Says He Hasn’t ‘Backed Off Anything’ In His Book, Still Thinks Social Security Is Unconstitutional
BREAKING: Perry Says He Hasn’t ‘Backed Off Anything’ In His Book, Still Thinks Social Security Is Unconstitutional: pThinkProgress filed this report from Des Moines, IA. During a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa today, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) reaffirmed all the views expressed in his book Fed Up!, including that Social Security is unconstitutional, despite previous attempts by his campaign staff to walk back the candidate’s words. In Perry’s book, released [...]/p
8/24/11
Marco Rubio: Medicare, Social Security ‘Weakened Us As People,’ Made Us Lazy
Marco Rubio: Medicare, Social Security ‘Weakened Us As People,’ Made Us Lazy: pPotential vice president running mate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) dismissed the importance of programs like Medicare and Social Security during a speech at the Reagan Presidential Library this afternoon, arguing that the initiatives “weakened us as people”: These programs actually weakened us as a people. You see, almost forever, it was institutions in society that [...]/p
Classic Libertarian garbage. Remember that the Tea Party views the elderly as parasites and no longer producers. That's what happens when you read too much Ayn Rand.
Classic Libertarian garbage. Remember that the Tea Party views the elderly as parasites and no longer producers. That's what happens when you read too much Ayn Rand.
8/23/11
Why Rick Perry’s War On The 16th Amendment Is The Third Prong Of His War On Seniors
Why Rick Perry’s War On The 16th Amendment Is The Third Prong Of His War On Seniors: pTexas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is taking a lot of well-deserved criticism for his absurd claims that Medicare and Social Security violate the Constitution. But these are hardly the only part of Perry’s constitutional agenda, which seem designed to inflict unnecessary cruelty on America’s seniors. Perry also wants to repeal the federal government’s 16th Amendment [...]/p
8/20/11
Tom Coburn: America Was Better Off Before Medicare
Tom Coburn: America Was Better Off Before Medicare: pTom Coburn is really on a roll this summer. He has suggested that taking care of the elderly is unconstitutional, speculated that President Obama is created a culture of dependency because of his race and now Kevin Drum notices that ‘s even said that American health care system was better off before Medicare was enacted [...]/p
8/16/11
8/14/11
While Pushing Corporate Tax Cuts, Bachmann Rejects Extending Jobless Benefits: ‘We Don’t Have The Money’
While Pushing Corporate Tax Cuts, Bachmann Rejects Extending Jobless Benefits: ‘We Don’t Have The Money’: "pRight now, 14 million unemployed Americans are struggling to make ends meet. 44.4 percent of these Americans have been struggling without a job for six months or more. While Republican lawmakers continually put off their “jobs” agenda, many of these Americans receive much needed financial support from the federal unemployment benefits program. These benefits, unfortunately, [...]/p"
8/13/11
8/11/11
VIDEO: Romney Angrily Confronted Over His Desire To Cut Entitlements While Protecting The Rich
VIDEO: Romney Angrily Confronted Over His Desire To Cut Entitlements While Protecting The Rich: "pGOP 2012 presidential contender Mitt Romney today spoke at the Iowa state fair, before a key Republican debate tonight and an upcoming Iowa straw poll. At the end of his speech, a Q&A session quickly devolved into a shouting match. The first questioner asked Romney if he would raise the cap on payroll taxes, so [...]/p"
8/10/11
While Cutting Health Care For The Poor, Gov. Scott Pays Less Than $400 A Year For Taxpayer-Subsized Health Insurance Plan
While Cutting Health Care For The Poor, Gov. Scott Pays Less Than $400 A Year For Taxpayer-Subsized Health Insurance Plan: "pAfter relentlessly campaigning to abolish health care reform, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has taken every opportunity to slash health care coverage for the poor, elderly, and disabled. Since taking office in January, Scott has enacted a landmark Medicaid privatization scheme, rejected millions in federal health aid for seniors, children, and the disabled, and even [...]/p"
Boehner Claims S&P Downgrade Happened Because Democrats Blocked The GOP’s Attempt To Eliminate Medicare
Boehner Claims S&P Downgrade Happened Because Democrats Blocked The GOP’s Attempt To Eliminate Medicare: "pEver since the credit rating agency S&P downgraded U.S. credit to AA+ on Friday night, Republicans have desperately trying to pin the blame on President Obama, even though, as National Journal put it, “it’s hard to read the S&P analysis as anything other than a blast at Republicans.” S&P called out the GOP for using [...]/p"
He is a liar! This is the republicans true goal, to end Medicare and throw seniors to the insurance wolves.
He is a liar! This is the republicans true goal, to end Medicare and throw seniors to the insurance wolves.
8/9/11
Report: Health Insurer Profits Surged 13.5 Percent In Second Quarter
Report: Health Insurer Profits Surged 13.5 Percent In Second Quarter: "pHealth Care For America Now (HCAN) is out with a new release pointing out that health insurer profits are increasing as Americans are spending less on health care. “Combined profits for UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Cigna Corp. and Humana Inc., which cover one-third of the U.S. population, surged 13.5% to $3.4 billion [...]/p"
Bachmann: Raising Medicare Eligibility Age Should Be ‘In The Mix’
Bachmann: Raising Medicare Eligibility Age Should Be ‘In The Mix’: "pFox News’ Bill O’Reilly pressured GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann on how she would lower health care spending during an interview last night and ultimately forced her to admit that she would likely support raising the Medicare eligibility age. President Obama had agreed to a gradual age increase as part of a larger debt ceiling [...]/p"
8/5/11
CBO: Social Security Trust Fund Solvent Through 2039
CBO: Social Security Trust Fund Solvent Through 2039: "pA new report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reveals that the Social Security trust fund is actually in better shape than previously thought. The CBO had previously projected that the popular entitlement program was solvent until 2037. CBO now projects the trust fund won’t run out until 2039. In the ongoing battle over deficit [...]/p"
The Tea Party Is Coming For Your Medicare (Again)
The Tea Party Is Coming For Your Medicare (Again): "pIf It’s August, The Tea Party Wants To Take Away Your Health Care In August of 2009, the Tea Party tried to run the health care bill off the rails. Flash forward two years and the Tea Party is at it again, but this time they are dead set on pushing through the GOP’s spectacularly unpopular plan to [...]/p"
8/4/11
August Town Halls 2.0: Tea Party, Republicans Plan Renewed Push For Ryan’s Medicare Privatization Plan
August Town Halls 2.0: Tea Party, Republicans Plan Renewed Push For Ryan’s Medicare Privatization Plan: "pIn yet another sign that the debt ceiling negotiations have re-ignited conservatives’ fervor to privatize the Medicare program, Reuters is reporting that Tea Party activists are planning to descend on the town halls held by members of Congress while on recess this month to demand that the new super committee and future legislative proposals to [...]/p"
The Tea Party plans to yell and threaten at town hall meetings this month. They will be pushing Paul Ryan's Randian plan to destroy Medicare, privatize it and throw seniors to the insurance wolves.
The Tea Party plans to yell and threaten at town hall meetings this month. They will be pushing Paul Ryan's Randian plan to destroy Medicare, privatize it and throw seniors to the insurance wolves.
8/3/11
8/1/11
7/30/11
7/25/11
BREAKING: Eric Cantor Admits That $1 Trillion In War Savings Counted In Ryan Plan, ‘Cut, Cap & Balance’ Plan
BREAKING: Eric Cantor Admits That $1 Trillion In War Savings Counted In Ryan Plan, ‘Cut, Cap & Balance’ Plan: "pToday, Speaker John Boehner rejected Harry Reid’s plan, claiming that it was full of gimmicks. Boehner’s principle criticism was that it counted $1 trillion is savings from winding down the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In a remarkable interview on CNBC, Majority Leader Eric Cantor admitted to Larry Kudlow that both the Ryan Plan and [...]/p"
7/23/11
7/20/11
The Case For Preserving CLASS
The Case For Preserving CLASS: "pOur guest bloggers are Judy Feder, Urban Institute Fellow and Professor and former Dean, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Harriet Komisar, Research Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and Paul Vandewater, Senior Fellow, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities With most of the focus on the Affordable Care Act’s impact on health insurance coverage, little attention has [...]/p"
7/19/11
Rick Perry Signs A Mini-Ryan Health Bill
Rick Perry Signs A Mini-Ryan Health Bill: "pGov. Rick Perry (R-TX) is transforming Texas into a Paul Ryanian Mecca, having just signed legislation that seeks to privatize Medicare and compels the state to formally ask for a Medicaid block grant. The measure also “defunds abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood” and “implements co-payments for non-emergency visits to hospital emergency rooms.”/p"
Maine Governor Proposes Throwing 30,000 Off Medicaid: ‘We Should Not Be More Generous Than Other States’
Maine Governor Proposes Throwing 30,000 Off Medicaid: ‘We Should Not Be More Generous Than Other States’: "pMaine Governor Paul LePage (R) — a vocal opponent of the Affordable Care Act — is proposing reforming MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, by reducing eligibility to the level in place in most states, thereby throwing off some 30,000 Mainers off the rolls. “This is what the level is in 47 other states,” LePage said [...]/p"
7/17/11
7/12/11
Cantor Proposes Cutting $353 Billion From Medicare And Medicaid
Cantor Proposes Cutting $353 Billion From Medicare And Medicaid: "pHouse Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has proposed $353 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, which he suggested in the deficit reduction talks yesterday at the White House. Cantor’s plan would cut $100 billion in matching payments to states for Medicaid, and save $109 billion by increasing co-payments, reducing home health payments, and prohibiting [...]/p"
7/11/11
10 Reasons Why Everyday Americans Need Medicaid And How The Republican Budget Undermines Them
10 Reasons Why Everyday Americans Need Medicaid And How The Republican Budget Undermines Them: "pFrom CAP’s Scott Lilly, Melissa Boteach, Katie Wright: 1) States would have to spend $266 billion more on Medicaid from state-generated revenues, 2) Block-granting Medicaid would threaten the safety net for middle-class families, 3) Medicaid is a well-baby program but not really a poverty program, 4) The largest share of Medicaid spending benefits the disabled, [...]/p"
7/8/11
Why Politicians Should Care About Medicaid In Three Graphs
Why Politicians Should Care About Medicaid In Three Graphs: "pIn a new report out today, Scott Lilly dismisses the popular conception that Medicaid cuts would mostly affect lower income Americans who won’t go to the polls and therefore don’t pose much of an electoral threat to lawmakers. He argues that the massive Medicaid reductions in Paul Ryan’s budget (and any other cuts that the [...]/p"
7/7/11
Medicaid Improves Health Outcome
Medicaid Improves Health Outcome: "pOne of the most ridiculous aspects of the recent debate over the Affordable Care Act went as follows. Many people in the United States of America believe quite sincerely that over-taxation of rich people is among the most serious problems the country faces. And the Affordable Care Act does a great deal to increase taxes [...]/p"
7/6/11
States Make Drastic Cuts To Medicaid Reimbursment Rates
States Make Drastic Cuts To Medicaid Reimbursment Rates: "pPhil Galewitz’s worries that states’ efforts to control costs in their Medicaid program by cutting reimbursement rates to providers will lead to serious access problems for beneficiaries and only exacerbate physician shortages: The payment cuts, which require federal approval, are part of a larger effort by states to reduce the cost of Medicaid, typically the [...]/p"
7/5/11
Enrollees In Federal High-Risk Insurance Pools See Lower Premiums
Enrollees In Federal High-Risk Insurance Pools See Lower Premiums: "pI’ve recently been told that progressive groups and blogs are eager to pounce on the administration for not living up to certain principles but rarely highlight instances of success and accomplishment. And so, it’s in an effort to correct the imbalance that that I point to the government’s efforts to reduce health care premiums in [...]/p"
7/2/11
7/1/11
The Consequences Of Repealing Medicaid’s Maintenance Of Effort Provision
The Consequences Of Repealing Medicaid’s Maintenance Of Effort Provision: "pOut of the many troubling health care repeal amendments in the Korean trade agreement, Sen. Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) proposal to repeal the maintenance of effort provision for the Medicaid program — which requires states to maintain their enrollment numbers or risk losing federal funding — is possibly the most egregious. It encompasses the Republican approach [...]/p"
6/30/11
Happy Birthday Medicare!
Happy Birthday Medicare!: "pFast Facts on Medicare Tomorrow marks the 45th anniversary of the implementation of Medicare (July 1, 1966), following President Lyndon Johnson’s signing of the landmark health care program on July 30, 1965. Despite Medicare’s great run, House Republicans voted almost unanimously to end it in order to pay for tax more breaks for Big Oil, [...]/p"
6/29/11
Report: Failing To Raise The Debt Ceiling Would Lead To Immediate Cuts To Social Security
Report: Failing To Raise The Debt Ceiling Would Lead To Immediate Cuts To Social Security: "pSeveral Republicans have poo-pooed the need to raise the debt ceiling when the nation hits its legal borrowing limit sometime around Aug. 2. “I doubt that it would be disruptive to the economy,” said Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA). Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said yesterday that Americans will say “well, good” if the U.S. [...]/p"
6/28/11
6/27/11
CHART: States That Cut The Most Spending Have Lost The Most Jobs
CHART: States That Cut The Most Spending Have Lost The Most Jobs: "pOur guest blogger is Adam Hersh, an economist at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. There’s a new cult of economic thought sweeping the nation — or at least many Republican (and even some Democratic) political circles. Its adherents cling to the erroneous belief that sharp government spending cuts will revitalize economic growth and [...]/p"
Bachmann’s Plan: To Deal With Debt, We Must ‘Wean Everybody’ Off Social Security, Medicare
Bachmann’s Plan: To Deal With Debt, We Must ‘Wean Everybody’ Off Social Security, Medicare: "pThis past weekend, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) addressed the right-wing Constitutional Coalition’s annual conference in St. Louis. She had dropped out of the Tea Party Convention occurring on the same day in Nashville to make the appearance. Speaking to a small group of conference attendees and ThinkProgress during lunch on Saturday, Bachmann outlined how the [...]/p"
Majority Whip McCarthy: Oil Subsidies Off The Table In Debt Talks, But Medicare Cuts Have To Be Part Of The Deal
Majority Whip McCarthy: Oil Subsidies Off The Table In Debt Talks, But Medicare Cuts Have To Be Part Of The Deal: "pHouse Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) blew up debt ceiling negotiations with Vice President Joe Biden last week due to the GOP’s insistence that any budget deal not include one dime of revenue. As we’ve been documenting, the GOP walked away in order to protect Americans making more than $500,000 and large corporations from seeing [...]/p"
6/25/11
6/24/11
Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban On Health Data Mining
Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban On Health Data Mining: "pPharmaceutical companies target doctors for sales pitches through a process known as “detailing.” Data miners comb through prescription records to find out which doctors are treating which conditions with which drugs, and sell this data to drug companies so that they can pitch doctors on drugs they are likely to actually prescribe. If your doctor [...]/p"
America, Land of the Free to Go Hungry | Common Dreams
America, Land of the Free to Go Hungry | Common Dreams
Thanks to Paul Ryan and his Ayn Rand agenda.
Thanks to Paul Ryan and his Ayn Rand agenda.
6/23/11
Five Reasons Why Health Insurers Should Lower Their Premiums
Five Reasons Why Health Insurers Should Lower Their Premiums: "pHealth Care for America Now’s Ethan Rome offers these: 1) Insurance company profits have gone too far, 2) Premiums are going up while medical spending is going down, 3) CEOs Spend Billions on Dividends and Stock Buybacks to Boost Share Prices and Enrich Themselves, 4) Insurance companies hoard cash in the name of “solvency,” 5) [...]/p"
6/22/11
The Koch Echo Chamber
Good video on the Libertarian funders of the Tea Party and what they want to do to Social Security.
6/21/11
Medicare Is A More Accurate Payer Than Private Insurers
Medicare Is A More Accurate Payer Than Private Insurers: "pGiven this recent report, which found that “claims-processing errors among commercial insurers add an estimated $17 billion in unnecessary administrative costs to the healthcare system annually,” Ezra Klein points out that ”Medicare is the most accurate payer, with an average accuracy rate of over 96 percent”:/p"
6/20/11
6/17/11
6/16/11
6/15/11
Texas Follows In Paul Ryan’s Footsteps: House Passes Measure To Block Grant Medicaid, Privatize Medicare
Texas Follows In Paul Ryan’s Footsteps: House Passes Measure To Block Grant Medicaid, Privatize Medicare: "pYesterday, Texas lawmakers in the state house passed a 142-page measure in special session that could drastically change how 6.6 million Texans benefiting from Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP programs receive their care. The bill — which includes two controversial amendments that have yet to be adopted by the state Senate — strongly mirror the reforms [...]/p"
Will Rick Scott’s Medicaid Privatization Dump Granny?
Will Rick Scott’s Medicaid Privatization Dump Granny?: "pLawmakers in Florida are touring the Sunshine State promoting a new law that, if approved by the federal government, would require “most of the state’s 3 million Medicaid enrollees to join private health plans after July 1, 2012.” The proposal “gives managed care companies more control over the program that’s paid for with federal and [...]/p"
6/14/11
GOP Cuts To Food Aid For Seniors And Food Banks Equals One Day Of Bush Tax Cuts For Millionaires
GOP Cuts To Food Aid For Seniors And Food Banks Equals One Day Of Bush Tax Cuts For Millionaires: "pToday, the House is debating the Republican’s 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which, as we’ve been documenting, slashes funding for food assistance, preventing hundreds of thousands of people from accessing aid. In addition to lopping more than $800 million from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the GOP’s bill would cut [...]/p"
Rep. Ryan's Misinformation Tour De Force
Rep. Ryan's Misinformation Tour De Force
Lie after lie from Mr. Ryan. Remember that Ayn Rand was Ryan's driving force behind the destruction of Medicare. Libertarian's consider seniors worthless and no longer "producers". This mindset is behind Ryan's attacks on the elderly and the poor. Social Security is next on Ryan's chopping block.
Lie after lie from Mr. Ryan. Remember that Ayn Rand was Ryan's driving force behind the destruction of Medicare. Libertarian's consider seniors worthless and no longer "producers". This mindset is behind Ryan's attacks on the elderly and the poor. Social Security is next on Ryan's chopping block.
Top 6 Health Care Myths From Yesterday’s Republican Presidential Debate…In One Minute
Top 6 Health Care Myths From Yesterday’s Republican Presidential Debate…In One Minute: "pThe seven Republicans who took part in yesterday’s presidential debate in New Hampshire all promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act without offering alternatives for expanding access to insurance or lowering health care costs. Instead, the GOP fudged the facts of the law and stood by Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposal to privatize the Medicare [...]/p"
6/13/11
Memo To GOP: Medicare Is Better At Controlling Costs Than Private Insurers
Memo To GOP: Medicare Is Better At Controlling Costs Than Private Insurers: "pDuring yesterday’s appearance on Meet the Press, Rick Santorum regurgitated this nugget of Republican conventional wisdom: “We need a more comprehensive plan where seniors and individuals are involved in controlling costs. And you have government now controlling well over 50 percent of medical care, and they’re not doing a very good job controlling costs.” The [...]/p"
The Importance Of Medicaid In Three Charts
The Importance Of Medicaid In Three Charts: "pCongressional Republicans are hoping to give states more discretion over their Medicaid programs and ideally push beneficiaries into private sources of insurance coverage. They argue that the program’s costs are growing at an unsustainable rate and that Medicaid’s structure and lower provider reimbursement rates undermine patients’ access to quality care. The party has gone so [...]/p"
6/11/11
6/9/11
Santorum Admits Privatizing Social Security Would Be Very Expensive, But He’d Still ‘Love To Be Able To Do It’
Santorum Admits Privatizing Social Security Would Be Very Expensive, But He’d Still ‘Love To Be Able To Do It’: "pFor years, 2012 Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has been a staunch advocate of Social Security privatization. In fact, he called privatization the “great hope” for Social Security, and even referenced his support of privatization on the day he officially announced his candidacy for president. However, Santorum has tried to have it both ways when [...]/p"
Ayn Rand And The GOP
Paul Ryan's guide to kill Medicare. Libertarian's who follow Rand like Paul Ryan view seniors as worthless. To Libertarian's seniors no longer serve a purpose. This explains the "you are on your own" attitude. This is why Ryan wants to kill Medicare and throw seniors to the private insurance companies.
Rep. Paul Ryan's Truth Deficit
Rep. Paul Ryan's Truth Deficit
Paul Ryan gets caught lying again about Medicare.
Paul Ryan gets caught lying again about Medicare.
Medicare Privatization Will Increase Health Care Spending
Medicare Privatization Will Increase Health Care Spending: "pI’ve made this point before, but now courtesy of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities we get it in convenient chart form. Not only does privatizing Medicare push a larger share of health care costs onto patients, but because Medicare uses market power to bargain down unit prices total health care spending actually goes [...]/p"
Pawlenty’s Economic Plan Cuts Taxes For Millionaires By 41 Percent
Pawlenty’s Economic Plan Cuts Taxes For Millionaires By 41 Percent: "p2012 presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty (R) yesterday laid out his economic “plan,” which is based around huge tax cuts that Pawlenty claims will spark a decade of 5 percent GDP growth, even though growth staying at that rate for that long has literally never occurred in America. As Michael Linden noted, Pawlenty’s tax plan would [...]/p"
Tea Party Plan To "Take Our Country Back"
Tea Party Plan To
One look and you understand that the Tea Party is run by big corporations and seniors are not worth helping. Remember that big insurance would love to privatize Medicare and Social Security.
Gov. Rick Scott May Personally Benefit From New Law That Hands Medicaid Program Over To Private Companies
Gov. Rick Scott May Personally Benefit From New Law That Hands Medicaid Program Over To Private Companies: "pFlorida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed “a landmark Medicaid overhaul” yesterday that will put “hundreds of thousands of low-income and elderly Floridians into managed-care plans.” The proposal “gives managed care companies more control over the program that’s paid for with federal and state money,” a shift the state GOP claims will “hold down spiraling costs [...]/p"
Rep. Ryan Fits Six Lies Into A Single Minute
Rep. Ryan Fits Six Lies Into A Single Minute
Ryan gets caught lying again.
Santorum Launches Presidential Campaign By Reminding Everyone He Supports Bush-Style Social Security Privatization
Santorum Launches Presidential Campaign By Reminding Everyone He Supports Bush-Style Social Security Privatization: "pFormer Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), who in 2006 was trounced by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), is officially launching his presidential campaign today. Santorum has been making the rounds in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire in preparation for his bid, laying out a radical right-wing platform. Santorum appeared this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, [...]/p"
The $2.5 Trillion Tragedy: What America Has Given Up For 10 Years Of Bush Tax Cuts
The $2.5 Trillion Tragedy: What America Has Given Up For 10 Years Of Bush Tax Cuts: "pToday marks the 10th anniversary of former President George W. Bush signing into law his 2001 tax cuts (he passed a second round in 2003). While doing so, Bush promised prosperity and growth, but the nation got neither. The cost of these budget-busting 2001 and 2003 tax cuts was, as estimated by Citizens for Tax [...]/p"
Rep. Paul Ryan's Truth Deficit
Rep. Paul Ryan's Truth Deficit
He has a real problem telling the truth.
Texas Follows In Paul Ryan’s Footsteps: House Passes Measure To Block Grant Medicaid, Privatize Medicare
Texas Follows In Paul Ryan’s Footsteps: House Passes Measure To Block Grant Medicaid, Privatize Medicare: "pYesterday, Texas lawmakers in the state house passed a 142-page measure in special session that could drastically change how 6.6 million Texans benefiting from Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP programs receive their care. The bill — which includes two controversial amendments that have yet to be adopted by the state Senate — strongly mirror the reforms [...]/p"
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