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Subscribe to RSSRep. Paul Ryan acknowledged this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe that Medicare played a role in the Republicans’ loss in NY-26.
“The president and his party have decided to demagogue” the issue, the Wisconsin Republican said, calling the campaign against his budget plan “Mediscare.”
When asked to clarify if he believed the “demagoguing” of Medicare played a role, Ryan said, “That’s a big part of it.” He added, that Democrats are “scaring seniors that their current benefits are going to be affected.”
He also acknowledged on Morning Joe, “People in the Republican Party are nervous because of these kinds of ads,” referring to a Web video depicting him throwing an elderly woman in a wheelchair off a cliff. “You should have seen how many takes it took to make that work,” he joked. He argued, as President Obama did during the health-care debate, that the biggest hurdle is that this is a complicated issue that is difficult to explain. “Once people learn the facts, we are fine,” he claimed.
So what are the facts?
1. Would Medicare continue to exist?
It’s true that anyone 55 and older would not be affected under Ryan’s plan, so a video depicting someone currently older than 55 being thrown off a cliff is misleading.
But Ryan claimed that Medicare would continue to exist. The more important question, however, is in what form?
When asked by one of the Morning Joe panelists, “For people who are 54 years of age or younger, when they're 70 years of age, are they dealing and negotiating with an insurance company?”
“No,” Ryan responded.
“Or are they dealing with Medicare?”
“It's Medicare.”
But as the Congressional Budget Office wrote in its analysis of Ryan’s plan:
“People who turn 65 in 2022 or later years and Disability Insurance beneficiaries who become eligible for Medicare in 2022 or later would not enroll in the current Medicare program but instead would be entitled to a premium support payment to help them purchase private health insurance.”
In other words, traditional Medicare would, in fact, be phased out for those 54 and younger. They would be significantly impacted. Lost in the back and forth of the exchange with Ryan was that in the same answer, he went on to outline just how much Medicare would change – albeit not explicitly.
“You select the plan that you want,” he said. “You can't be denied. And then Medicare subsidizes your plan. That's how it works for a lot of insurance arrangements. For federal workers, Medicare Advantage and plenty of others work like this. Medicare subsidizes a plan you choose.”
Those who are 65 by 2022, would select private insurance from an exchange system – something similar to that of the health-care overhaul passed last year. Then, the CBO writes: “The premium support payments would go directly from the government to the plans that people selected.”
This would significantly impact those 54 and younger. CBO:
“Under the proposal, the gradually increasing number of Medicare beneficiaries participating in the new premium support program would bear a much larger share of their health care costs than they would under the traditional program. … That greater burden would require them to reduce their use of health care services, spend less on other goods and services, or save more in advance of retirement than they would under current law.”
In short, in 10 years, people would pay more for health care when they’re seniors under the Ryan plan than they would under traditional Medicare.
And because participation in Medicare would be voluntary, CBO says the number of uninsured seniors would increase:
“[C]osts to individuals (beyond those covered by the premium support payment) would be higher under the proposal than under traditional Medicare, and some individuals would therefore choose not to purchase insurance … the number of older Americans without health insurance would be higher.”
2. Did the idea for “premium support” come from a Bill Clinton commission?
Ryan also claimed on Morning Joe that the idea for “premium support” “came from Bill Clinton's bipartisan commission to save Medicare.” He added that the “Brookings Institution first coined the phrase ‘premium support.’”
While it is true that Alice Rivlin, a senior fellow at Brookings and Clinton’s former Office of Management and Budget director, worked with Ryan on coming up with the idea of “premium support,” there are two key differences. She told Ryan she could not support his plan, according to comments she made to Politico last month, because:
1) Seniors do not have a choice between staying with traditional Medicare or not
2) The increases in the amount of subsidies are too small
“She said seniors would have the choice between keeping their current form of Medicare or choosing to enter the pool,” Politico wrote. “In Ryan’s version, he did not keep the beneficiaries with the choice to keep what Rivlin called the ‘default option.’”
And: “The other main difference is in the rate of growth in subsidies for beneficiaries entering the new exchange system. ‘In the Ryan version, he has lowered the rate of growth and I don’t think that’s defensible,’ Rivlin said. ‘It pushed too much of the cost onto the beneficiaries.’”
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Thanks for the FACT check Domenico!
What a BOLD faced liar this clown is... does he seriously think that NO ONE will remember it's a voucher plan?
During a town hall meeting in Milton, a constituent who described himself as a “lifelong conservative” asked Ryan about the effects of growing income inequality in our nation. The constituent noted that huge income disparities contributed to the Great Depression and the Great Recession, and thus wanted to know why the congressman was “fighting to not let the tax breaks for the wealthy expire.”
Ryan argued against “redistribut[ing]” in this manner. After the constituent noted that “there’s nothing wrong with taxing the top because it does not trickle down,” Ryan argued that “we do tax the top.” This response earned a chorus of boos from constituents:
Refreshing to see him getting a TASTE of his own bitter medicine!
Here's more outrage at his hair brain scheme:
Republican Congressmen don't care about anybody under the age of 55. This is the only logica conclusion. When your voucher runs out, and your cash runs out, you get a free cup of hemlock from the republican party
The Club For Growth seems to be taking over of the Republican party and decideing what canidate will run. As a 54 yo republican that has paid into medicare and social security since 15, I don't agree with their policies of eliminating these programs. where does that put my vote?
Paul Ryan:
People should not be fooled by Ryan's shiny object claim that nothing will happen to Medicare for those who are 55 now. Republicans say things and take them back all the time. According to Newt, for example, any attempt to quote what he said on MTP is a lie. How long did that recantation take? Forty-eight hours, maybe?
The promise made to those 55 and over "was not intended to be a factual statement." It was intended to be political pandering to the republicans' largest consistent voting block.
Too bad the block saw through it, huh?
I'm 47, let alone I have a Govenor that is throwing police, firefighters and teachers into the street, I have a House of Representatives wanting to take away part of my future.
I've worked since I was 13 with a paper route. Joined the Navy when I was 17 (Submarine Service). Stayed at my last job for 9 years and my current one since. I've been paying into S/S & Medicare all these years for what?
We really need to figure out how to get these guys out of office, and the faster the better.
This is a very pointless argument as we all know that the Illuminatti deems old people to be worthless and wants them liquidated so they can be turned into fertilizer to grow the next generation of super-crops!!! These crops would then be fed to a select group of specially trained operatives whose sole purpose is to fend off the coming ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!!!
It's all part of their master plan to dominate the world!!! No one over the age of 55 is safe!!!
You know, I heard that in Nevada, they accept chickens as payment for health care. Maybe we should all get grocery store coupons so that we can buy chickens to pay the doctor with.
How many chickens for a triple by-pass doc?
Republicants know what they are doing. W Bush picked our pockets and gave the loot to their cronies in the name of tax cut. now ryan and the same cronies want to pick our health.........this ain't happening. this is their plan to loot the middle class.
Depicting seniors being thrown off a cliff is accurate if one undestands they are future seniors--folks who are currently in their 40s and 50s. Also, if conservatives can embrace "Gateway" argumentation on other issues, it is only fair to argue that if Ryan Hood and his band of Merry Men ar given an inch they will take a mile. After all, current benefits have already been tampered with, and this is likely to continue if left unchecked.
The same goes for Social Security, and moving the goal post on the eligibility age from 62 to 65, from 65 to 67, and now they want to increase it to 70. Enough! Just because people are living longer, it doesn't mean they are living in good health -- and they deserve the same benefits as earlier generations.
It's well known that Republicans have been trying to end entitlements for generations, and they'll never give up. But they are hypocrites. From Lawrence O'Donnell's news program about Bill Maher debating Bill O'Reilly:
According to Maher, "Socialism doesn't mean that we're against making a profit; it just means that government takes over certain things like hospitals, the prisons and the military and schools that shouldn't be run for profit."
Lawrence O'Donnell points out:
In follow-up to Feisty's post...
First, many "small businesses" are doctors, lawyers, and investment bankers who don't create jobs. Second, why are they filing as individuals instead of at the corporate rate? Because they use write-offs to show no income. It doesn't matter what their tax rate is if they use write-offs to pay zero in taxes. Most of the folks who are not paying taxes are from this group, which is responsible for 57% of tax evasion (NOT those who are living at or below the poverty level).
Why won't Ryan/Republicans end loopholes? If we ended Republican "redistribution of wealth" through corporate subsidies and write-offs, we could all enjoy a lower tax rate. Please, let's get some intellectual honesty here. Obama/Biden 2012!
Get a load of this!
Rob Woodall Won't Give Up Government Health Care 'Because It's Free' (VIDEO)
These right wing bastards are beyond belief!
Someone should spring a recall on this guy, or whatever can be done to embarrass him out of office.
On second thought, just let him keep talking.
LoL Don't be surprised when your prescriptions medications start to taste just like chicken.
WOW........
The GOP made a massive miscalculation that people over 55 wouldn't care as they wouldn't be affected
BIG MISTAKE!! And its going to cost the GOP a lot of house and senate seats, not to mention a shot at the Presidency.
Ryan and the GOP went to far (Overreached) and now watch the GOP goons run from it....let the long hot summer of town halls begin!
Pass the popcorn!!
You have to remember Mrs McCain has a "small"business, where she earns a measly $6mil annually. The real definition of small business, is completely different from the Republicans definition.
Paul Ryan, Eddie Munster and 'Goober' Pyle- separated at birth?
Fletch: i hate to tell ya, but the Federal definition of a small business IS 6 million or under a year.
So its ok for her to list that as personal income? That was her personal income not gross or net earnings for the business.
as soon as you hear them telling people over 55 they won't be affected, you know it is going to be very, very bad for the rest of us.
and where are the figures? i see everything but numbers.
and kudos to truepartiot, i saw the bill maher show and i saw the o'donnell show and could not help laughing out loud. "socialists want to take freedom away from prisoners". how dare they?
but, if they did free the prisoners i am sure they would have some votes.
AP,
not quite and the variations are often manipulated:
http://web.sba.gov/faqs/faqindex.cfm?areaID=15
Anyone else sensing the desperation?
Speaking of Ryan's plan, has anyone checked on Scott Brown to figure out where he stands in ot today?
I find it interesting that the "demagoguing" Medicare is unacceptable to the GOP/TP, but deaths panels were completely acceptable during the Healthcare Reform town hall meetings.
ding, ding, ding
we have a winner here,...
Vouchers will surely 'kill' granny much quicker than end of life care conversations,...but don't look over HERE at the details; quick, look over THERE at the pretty rainbow!
Plus he maintains that his plan would be "voluntary." Does that mean that people could opt out of paying FICA taxes if they sign something saying they will forego any money back? And what if they change their minds? Will there be a penalty payment? Any idea how much it will cost to administrate that?
Yeah, and lets not forget that GOP scrare tactic during 2010 of 'Obama is destroying Medicare' with his $500,000,000 program cost reduction
When Obama recommends a cut as part of HCR and leaved Medicare essentially the same , its ruining medicare' but when Dems poit out the FACT that Ryan's plan WILL END MEDICARE...its all of the sudden 'demogoguing'
Nice try GOP. We are not fooled. Prepare have your a** handed to you in 2012; House, Senate and the Presidency
So basically Ryan is lying. What a surprise; I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked!
He and anyone who agrees with his plan, including Pawlenty are firmly tagged as a Medicare killer. Senior Citizens understand that this plan will not affect them as it is written. They also understand that this may make destitute and perhaps kill their children and grandchildren, all in the name of handing huge sums of money to people who already have too much money. This is wealth distribution at its worst. Billionaires get a huge handout and middle class and poor are offered a coupon, poverty and a death sentence.
Truer words have never been spoken. Why then must i continue to pay into the system if i will not be getting the BENEFITs (not ENTITLEMENTs) i paid for.
Medicare in it's current form cannot last, Obamacare doesn't preserve it, so you are so smart give a reason to vote for Obama again. Not B.S. talking points, there is enough of that from BOTH sides. Give me some real HARD CORE FACTS, because as it stands I wont vote for Obama again( I know I've made that clear many times). I need My Country back.
You want your country back from who? "The blacks?" The statements here are pretty clear, especially if you read the article.
Seriously t4t who hijacked "Your" country? I say the Repukelicans hijacked it at least partially, forcing the pres to extend tax cuts, promised job legislation then reneged, and is now seeking to end BENEFITS you and i paid into our whole working lives? You need to serioulsy re-direct your anger back at those who are directly harming you and the rest of the citzens of this great nation.
As I said above, don't count on it NOT affecting those 55 and over. That's just what they thought they had to say to get that base of support. Creating a wedge between the seniors, who might like reduced taxes as long as their benefits are safe, and those who are not yet senior, who don't vote in the masses that seniors do. On the surface, it's clever. I think they even expected it to work until they got to the town hall meetings. But if they ever get control of Congress, I wouldn't count on those 55 and over being safe.
What was taken away from you, specifically? Id like to hear it. I'm tired of these Teatard tirades and one-liners without substance or solutions.
You could phase in a raise in the premium for EVERYONE including current seniors
You can also raise the eligibility of Medicare to Match Social Security age of eligibility.
You can also means-test Medicare
These 3 strategies alone spreads the costs more fairly to ALL RETIREES current and present and leaved the program solvent for another 100 years. So the argument that you have to get rid of it to save it is NUTS! There are solutions, the GOP just doesn't want to negotiate anything that leaves the program standing.
America gets it and we will be voting for the party/candidate with the better, balanced approach. And right now, that ain't the GOP
time4truth - First, I agree with other posters that the mantra "taking your country back" is insulting on many levels -- as if no other American has rights except you, but most of all the racism originally at the basis of it.
Second, thanks to Republicans, so-called "Obamacare" is only insurance reform. However, regulating insurance is better than nothing in helping to lower health care costs. And high time, because insurance companies have not been subjected to anti-trust laws = no competition. Of course they are already finding ways to game the system. This is why we need to eliminate insurance middle men and proft from the health care system in general.
In regard to Medicare, the Dems have their plan. It's called "Medicare," and it works very well. There are many ways to shore it up.
Aside from cracking down on fraud, the FICA cap at $106,000 needs to be increased to reflect the rich getting richer, especially if there is no means testing when it comes time to collect these benefits.
But everyone needs to have a little more withheld. I would prefer to contribute more now so I can have health care latter. I don't agree with raising the eligibility age, any more than seniors using vouchers to buy insurance from private companies. It is already hard for people in their 50s to find affordable health care, even when their employer offers plans.
We need to make pharmaceutical companies compete globally. Their R&D is already protected from generics for years. We need more hospitals to become non-profit as well. These kinds of things would help lower health care costs for everyone.
There are other ideas, but ultimately what we really need to do is have a single payer system for everyone. We could cut costs in half for everyone if we did this.
Wayne I'am black but color isn't the issue for me. Why is it the first thing you think of?
Thank you True Patriot.
I am willing to bet not one poster believes y time4truth is black. I certainly don't. Not with the stupid statement "take my country back" Take it back where and from who?
Getting lost in all the Medicare conversation is the huge tax breaks that Ryan has in his plan, mostly going to the uber-rich. And also lost is that every analysis says his plan will actually increase the deficit.
And isn't that rich that Ryan is lamenting that his plan is being demagogued? This from the guy who lead so many distortions on health care reform.
And a reminder: if you voted AGAINST ending the massive oil subsidies and say you want to end the federal deficit and lower government spending, you are LYING.
getting lost in the Stevemidwest's rant is that Ryan offsets the tax reducutions with the closing of all the tax loopholes like the 1,000 person tax unit staff at GE used to pay no taxes last year.
According to what a congressman just said on MSNBC, people who make a million dollars a year will get a $100,000 tax break. That tax break ought to more than make up for any supposed loopholes that would be closed.
In short, I doubt that any wealthy persons are losing sleep over this, but I'll bet lots of seniors are.
I remember when Scott Brown won, the Republicans claimed it was a referendum on Obama and his policies. Now that Kathy Hochul won a red district, what does that say for Republicans? I guess another referendum on Obama.
It must be hard for Paul Ryan and the Republicans to see that the American people finally get it. That they're not fooled anymore by this trickle down BS the Republicans have been serving up to the people of this country for years. Yeah....just give the rich all their money and they'll trickle it back down to you. Hah!!! Ryan is hitting the regular American guy and gal in their gut with his plan to end the guaranteed benefit of Medicare and I suspect his willingness to privatize Social Security and get rid of that as a guaranteed benefit too. Republicans hate the middle class and along with their corporate buddies would like to see an ever diminishing middle class. Conservative thinking assumes that a vibrant middle class takes too much from the top so it's much better for the wealthy and corporations if the working class has only enough money to just survive and no means by which to earn more. They therefore won't rock the boat and agitate for better working conditions and higher wages. It's easy enough to read their philosophy. It's in many of the conservative think tank papers.
Typical GOP/TP BS...try to screw U.S. and when/if they get caught...blame it on the Democrats.
Thanks FR!!
For calling him out on his LIES.
TRUTH - not CRAP
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
I listened to Ryan explain his Medicare plan on Morning Joe and everybody was scratching their heads in wonder because it sounded so different than the original description. Guess facts don't matter when you're trying to pass garbage.
Between re-wording, mis-speaking, flip-flopping, that's not-what-I-actually-meant-ing and outright denying, who knows what IS fact any more!
Ability to read between the lines and opposable thumbs separate us from most fo the species on this planet. The former is our weapon against Repukelican policies.
So after all of this town hall back and forth, why would the GOP continue to assert that NY-26 was NOT related to Medicare or not be a sign from the electorate that things need to change?
Good job on the "fact check!" You made a complex subject pretty understandable. It will require constant, clear and quick rebuttal as Ryan also made it clear that the Rs would not retreat from this "big lie" until Americans soften to it. Beware, when all you hear is what happens if NOTHING is done, then what is presented as the only remedy begins to sound grudgingly acceptable if not necessary. Just leave out Clinton era tax rates on the very wealthy, means testing for benefits, raising caps on income subject to withholding, etc etc. If everything is off the table except one plan, you can sell anything.
Basically this is how it works for my company, much like what the repukes are doing:
Inititate a project to "remediate" a particular issue.
Research suitable solutions and present 3, a Platinum Plan, a Gold Plan, and a Silver Plan. The Gold Plan is obviously what we are shooting for, so we make the Platinum plan out of reach, and the Silver plan doesn't go far enough. Management then goes with our Gold Plan and we get what we want.
This kid is a punk and a liar, and this is what they are pinning their hopes on. Brave and innovative, no way, only punks pick old ladies purses.
You forgot 'courageous' HAHAHA!
The faster the rise - the harder the fall...
Written by Jimmy Cliff, but i prefer the Jerry Garcia version myself.
It's crazy to believe elderly Americans could just "cut back"on healthcare, as if they were cutting back on eating out or cell phone use. This is where I think Ryan is out of touch with ordinary people. Most retired people in this country live on less than $34,000 a year. How will they afford $6,400 more a year the CBO says the Ryan plan will cost them? You better believe many seniors would go without insurance.
But is that what they are shooting for? Forcing seniors to purposely lose health care coverage to relieve the "burden" to the system? It sure seems that way to me.
Bingo, AMy- this is something I hit on a week or two ago. Some idot (Romney? Ryan??) was on Hannity, bragging that 'all we want to do is give the seniors the same option to select insurance like us congresspeople do". Of course, not mentioned was the fact that maybe- just maybe, Congresspersons make a dollar or two more a year than your typical fixed-income oldster.
Where's the usual right-wing posters on this one? Can I get a comment on that, please?
Amy,
There are way too many seniors that have only SS for their retirement which is only about $15,000 a year or $1250 a month. So where do these people come up with $500 a month or is there a voucher payment scale that adjusts dependent on income?
Will seniors still be required to pay a monthly premium, as they do now, for Medicare or will that be done away with?
DBO
They're all taking refuge in the woods.......the next person needed to be debunked is Romney, who claimed, just yesterday, that it was his advise the led to Detroit new success. Please, call him out now.
You gotta give us republicans credit for somethings like coming up with scary or political names for things like Death Panels, Obamacare, Mediscare and Job Killing...fill in the program name. Ryan is now the poster boy for why the GOP is losing support all over the country and has firmly planted Medicare reform as THE issue for 2012. The Speaker and his colleagues deserve much of the blame also for not standing up to the radical wing of my party until it was way too late. Many of us older republicans do have empathy for the poor and disadvantaged and see the need for social programs. Many of us oppose the radicalization of the party from a fiscal conservative party to a socially and fiscally conservative party. This is a marriage made in hell. Our voices are drowned out by what the media covers UNTIL we assert ourselves like we did in the NY-26. Now they hear us.
I feel your pain Groucho. I was on the fence like you once. My family were Republicans ever since there was a Republican party. They voted for every Republican presidential candidate from Lincoln on up. I started to feel something wrong in Reagan's second term. The "nice old man" was beginning to kill the middle class. In my chosen profession, I knew I would never rise above that. I played with being independent and then admitted I was a Democrat. In my father's last years, he found himself complaining about the NRA, tax cuts for the wealthy, the Republican battle against environmental laws, and many other topics. At the age of 80 this World War II vet from a solid Republican family registered as a Democrat. As he lay dying, he told me how he regretted not being able to vote against George W. Bush one more time. It's never too late Groucho!
Wayne-1656909..
We just have to hope that there are more like us out there. It's sort of like we're republicans in name and independents at heart now. I simply don't recognize the party I started with and for when Goldwater ran in 1964.
Groucho: gee...pangs for Goldwater...pardon me while I puke
It even isn't so much that he is lying - its the delusionary way that this plan is defended.
The Ryan plan doesn't impact anyone under 65 - this way, CURRENT voters are not impacted by this mess so for all intents and purposes , Ryan and his group are safet'y re-elected. By the time they are done with public office, this plan hits and the rest of us are totally scr*wed - With Ryan long gone.
Guys..if people are living longer and if the Baby Boomers are about to increase the number of retirees, it sounds like its time to increase the money for these entitlements.
Yes, yes, yes - get rid of waste and abuse but more people = more money required?
To say, no taxes means that something has got to give.
All...I'm in my mid-40's and I want my Medicare when I hit 65. I've paid into the program for decades!
Pablo, this is not an Entitlement since it is funded by the people who pay taxes. It is a BENEFIT. But i get where you are coming from.
I don't think "the greatest generation" takes kindly to conservatives pulling the rug out from under their children and grandchildren. The thing that kills me is that they kill medicare and therefore citizens of the United States of America while handing more money to people who don't need it. They would have had more traction on this issue if they cut the Bush tax cuts as well, but they have shown themselves to be purely mercenary in their approach to governing.
Furthermore, every article I have read about Medicare Advantage, the privately managed insurance program funded by the government, suggests that healthcare costs are higher under that plan, for the same services as people get under regular Medicare.
Although private health plans were originally envisioned in the 1980s as a potential source of Medicare savings, such plans have generally increased program spending. In 2006, Medicare paid $59 billion to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans—an estimated $7.1 billion more than Medicare would have spent if MA beneficiaries had received care in
Everyone should check out factcheck.org - this was out right after the Ryan plan came out and have said the same thing as FR. For bi-partisan posts - they will slam everyone with what has been falsely spoken - anyone. I only wish they could do more factchecking. But it has been a busy year for lies.
Tell you what; between this boondogle and the complete, utter lack of job-creating legislation from the big 2010 winners, it's gonna be an interesting campaign season the rest of this year, and next. And what do WE democrats have to fear? "2008" beign written on a guest-book page! W O W, hope we pull through!!
In England 27% of the people in need of healthcare have to wait 13 weeks before their number is pulled. That is as current as this week.
time 4truth..
.......yeah but this isn't socialized medicine. You're free to pick your doctors under Medicare.
That's about what I have to wait to see my doctor.
That wait is for routine, non-emergency procedures. Even here in the US the wait time for the same procedures is often over two months.
Time4truth -- how far ahead to do you need to schedule a routine appointment? And if something comes up that needs urgent attention, does it also take that long, or is there a fast-track way to see the doctor?
Exactly Dennis. I was treated in England after an accident. I got a house call at the local pub and was not charged a dime for the visit, treatment or medication even as a foreigner.
Energencies still are immediate( if necessary) but some necessary surgeries that would be addresses quickly in America are put off until they can "Get To You". There is a reason why people in England go to other countries for their surgeries. One of Hillary's best friends lives in Canada, she came here for her cancer treatments. WHY?
And to you Groucho it's not Socialized medicine ...YET.
Wayne you didn't pay for it but the tax payers of England, someone ALWAYS pays for it. I'm sure you deserve free treatment though.
sorry,my post got caught off before I could fix it, this is an actual quote from the Government Accountability office:
Although private health plans were originally envisioned in the 1980s as a potential source of Medicare savings, such plans have generally increased program spending. In 2006, Medicare paid $59 billion to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans—an estimated $7.1 billion more than Medicare would have spent if MA beneficiaries had received care in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS).
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08522t.pdf
I’m so looking forward to the Senate vote on the Ryan plan.
We need this to happen now to get everyone on record for 2012 election cycle. We should expect to regain some seats in both houses of congress as well as a second term Barack "Seamus" O'Bama. LOL!
Off topic, but did anyone catch this yesterday about Governor Blowhole in NJ:
Man i hope they bear down on him more in the comming weeks, months and years. He's an absolute POS.
This ruling made nobody happy. Christie knew he could have been asked to put more than twice than that back into education so he grudgingly took his lumps. Suburban school districts have been left out to dry with rising enrollment in many cases with no rise in state support made worse by his ruling to only let districts increase by 2% if the budget passes in a general election. All this while he continues to cut tax rebates on seniors and gives the obligatory republican tax cut for millionaires.
But it's a start. More than he was GOING to do without the Supreme Court ruling, wouldn't you agree?
Bryan,
The NJ school budget for this year is $8 billion (with a "B"). About $5 billion of that goes to 31 school districts, all of which are urban schools (They are called "Abbott" schools here). The $500 million that the NJ Supreme Court is forcing our state to spend is going to those schools. Many of these schools are failing. If these school districts can't produce with the $161 million (on average) that they receive now, what is another $16 million per district going to do?
Please answer that one for me.
I agree Bryan, it is more than he would have done without the ruling. He also owes the Federal Government 275 million for halting construction on a railroad tunnel that many say would have brought more money to the state. Through a clerical error, he lost out on 400 million on Race to the Top money that would have aided school districts tremendously.
There is nothing left to explain. We get it, Mr Ryan. Your selling HARD! No need to shout at us. We understand your KOCH masters require their payday. That silver foot in your mouth (credit to the late great Texas Democratic Gov. Anne Richards) is beginning to tarnish in the eyes of even the bestest of your friends. (note Noot's intitial GUT response to your plans)
Keep preaching that message. We lefties like our prospects in 2012. The more manic your selling the less America believes your heart is in the right place on this one. Looks like 'Eddie munster' might be getting his batwings clipped soon if the spinning fails to deliver believers.
Fact is there's too much 'splainin' to do. Do you believe this guy has your back? Trust him? Don't worry, be happy!
Platitudes thrown up to deflect from that TRUTH T-PAw was yammering away about yesterday. (really more untruths when examined in the light of honesty) Y'all go ahead and throw that word around and try to win some points cause it is simply a spun sound byte that has lost it's effect on the American people. FINALLY!
This fact check is much appreciated First Read . . . keep 'em coming please! :o)