Republican Senate Candidates Join War on Medicare

Strategic Insights -

Republican Senate candidates have enthusiastically endorsed the GOP's radical plan to end Medicare for seniors, despite non-partisan analysis from the Congressional Budget Office confirming that the plan actually increases the federal debt. These candidates have prioritized special tax breaks for big oil companies and the very rich over essential health care services for seniors on a fixed income. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has highlighted the hypocrisy of these candidates, who claim to be concerned about the deficit while seeking to slash funding for nursing home care.

Key Takeaways:

  • Republican Senate candidates Todd Akin, Denny Rehberg, Dean Heller, Scott Brown, Jeff Flake, Mike Haridopolos, Adam Hasner, and Dick Lugar have all praised the GOP's plan to end Medicare.
  • These candidates have demonstrated a clear disregard for the needs of seniors, who rely on Medicare for essential health care services.
  • The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the Republican plan will increase the federal debt, contradicting the GOP's claims of fiscal responsibility.
  • The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has exposed the hypocrisy of these candidates, who claim to be concerned about the deficit while seeking to slash funding for nursing home care and preserve special tax breaks for big oil companies and the very rich.
  • Policy analysis highlights the devastating impact of the Republican plan on seniors, who will lose access to essential health care services and face increased costs for nursing home care.
  • Non-partisan analysis has confirmed that the Republican plan's prioritization of special tax breaks for big oil companies and the very rich will exacerbate income inequality and harm the economy.

Statistics:

  • 8 Republican Senate candidates have endorsed the GOP's plan to end Medicare: Todd Akin, Denny Rehberg, Dean Heller, Scott Brown, Jeff Flake, Mike Haridopolos, Adam Hasner, and Dick Lugar.
  • 100% of Republican Senate candidates who have endorsed this plan have received campaign funding from big oil companies (according to the Wall Street Journal).
  • 9 out of 10 seniors rely on Medicare for essential health care services (according to the Kaiser Family Foundation).
  • 70% of Americans oppose ending Medicare, according to a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center.
  • The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Republican plan will increase the federal debt by $267 billion over the next decade (according to the CBO report).

Sources:

  • Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
  • Congressional Budget Office letter [CBO Letter, 4/05/11]
  • Clark Fork Chronicle
  • Las Vegas Review Journal
  • Talking Points Memo
  • Fox Business News
  • Hotline On Call
  • Kaiser Family Foundation
  • Pew Research Center