The Republican Plan to Abolish Medicare

by: Hopeful

Tue Apr 05, 2011 at 03:35:43 PM EDT

Conservative Republicans are now revealing their true plans as they have proposed to abolish Medicare for everyone under 55, and replace it with a system of voucher designed to not keep up with inflation. This is now the moment of truth for Democrats. Nancy Pelosi was right in 2005 when she revealed her schedule to negotiate with Bush on Social Security: "Never. Is never good enough for you?"

There's plenty of issues the Democrats disagree about, but Medicare isn't one of them. If the public wants to abolish Medicare, let them vote Republican. I say the 2010 campaign shows the public wants just the opposite.

Rush Holt understands:

Budgets are moral documents. They reflect, in dollars and cents, our real priorities. Republican priorities are clear: abandoning the most vulnerable in our society by destroying Medicare and Medicaid in order to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans.  

Frank Lautenberg understands:

This budget is more proof that Tea Party extremists have toppled the Republican House leadership and completely taken over.  The House Republican Tea Partiers started with cuts to Head Start, education and medical research, and now they want to privatize Medicare.  If you are a child seeking an education or an older American seeking health care,the Tea Party budget is toxic to your future.

Every other Democrat must oppose this plan, and every Republican needs to be put on record that they plan to abolish the Medicare program if they get the Senate and Presidency.  

Update: Frank Pallone reminded me that Medicaid is at issue too:

"Converting Medicaid into block grants is one of the worst health care proposals to be presented to Congress in years"