Headline
RECORD CHECK: Blunt’s Recent Medicare Comments Contradicted by Record of Speaking, Voting Against it
Filed on December 7, 2009
For Immediate Release: December 7, 2009
Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125
RECORD CHECK: Blunt’s Recent Medicare Comments Contradicted by Record of Speaking, Voting Against it
Roy Blunt is on the attack once again, while ignoring his own record. Now he is promoting himself as a defender of Medicare, despite his long record of speaking and voting against the program.
This isn't the first time he has used seniors' health care as a political weapon. On conservative talk shows and at Republican campaign events he speaks against Medicare. For instance, over the summer, Congressman Blunt was caught on tape bashing Medicare twice, saying:
- SUGGESTED MEDICARE WAS A MISTAKE: "You could certainly argue that government should have never gotten into the health care business, and that might have been the best argument of all to figure out how people could have had more access to the competitive marketplace," Blunt said. "The government did get into the health care business in a big way in 1965 with Medicare and later with Medicaid. And government already distorts the marketplace" [The Hill 07/10/09] http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/07/10/blunt-suggests-medicare-medicaid-were-mistakes/
Additionally, his long record in Congress and as a member of the congressional leadership shows a pattern of trying to gut Medicare:
- Blunt Voted to Replace Medicare with Voucher Program: In April, Blunt voted in favor of a GOP alternative budget plan that would have converted Medicare into a voucher system and force beneficiaries to buy private insurance on their own. The AARP said the Republican plan “would be a complete revolution and would fundamentally change the character of Medicare.” Unlike a similar proposal put forth by the GOP in 2003, new retirees would not even have the option of buying into traditional Medicare once the voucher system was fully implemented. [National Journal, 8/28/09; H Con Res 85, Vote #191, 4/2/09]
- In 2006, Congressman Blunt voted to cut $6.4 billion from Medicare, in part by raising premiums for some Part B beneficiaries. [HRS653, Vote 4, 2/01/06]
- Congressman Blunt voted to cut Medicare funding by $115 billion in 1997. (HRS 202, Vote 343, 7/30/1997)
--30--
