Mourdock Corrects the Record on Medicare Reform; Reid Will Say or Do Anything to Buy Indiana Senate Seat

Indianapolis, IN – (August 21, 2012 ) The campaign of Indiana State Treasurer and GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock released the following statement in response to a new television ad sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s political action committee, the Majority PAC.

“In typical Washington fashion, this ad scares seniors by distorting the truth,” said Mourdock .  “I  won’t support reform that cuts entitlements for folks 55 years and older.  But, the Obama-Reid-Donnelly plan is already cutting $716 billion from Medicare as we speak.”

Mourdock has called for long term reform that will improve the sustainability of the Medicare and Social Security programs for those 55 and younger, while increasing the federal investment in the program in the near term to give those 55 and older the benefits they were promised.   Recently, the CBO revised upward by nearly 50 percent the affect the legislation will have on the Medicare program.

“Mr. Reid wants another vote in the US Senate,” said Mourdock, “And he knows he won’t get it from me.  Apparently, he’ll say and do anything –including lying about my views and scaring seniors — to buy this seat with big, out of state dollars and sad distortions.” Rep. Joe Donnelly joined Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi in passing health care legislation that will cut over $716 billion from Medicare, while the plan I embrace protects seniors 55 and older and makes these programs sound for future generations. 

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The Facts on The Obama-Reid-Donnelly Health Care Bill:

A Top Obama Campaign Adviser Lauded “The $700 Billion Cuts In Medicare That The President Achieved” Through Obamacare. CUTTER: “You know I heard Mitt Romney deride the $700 billion cuts in Medicare that the president achieved through health care reform.” (CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 8/12/12)

 According To The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Obamacare Cuts $716 Billion From Medicare. (Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Speaker John Boehner, 7/24/12)

 The Miami Herald Headline: “Obama’s $700 Billion Medicare-Cut Problem” (Marc Caputo, “Obama’s $700 Billion Medicare-Cut Problem,” The Miami Herald, 8/12/12)

“Medicare Actuaries And Trustees Say Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund Will Be Exhausted In 2024 Under Current Law.” (Robert Pear, “Romney Medicare Plan Draws A Stark Contrast,” The New York Times, 5/15/12)

Factcheck.Org, On Medicare Under President Obama: “The Promise That ‘Benefits Will Remain The Same’ Is Just As Fictional As The Town Of Mayberry…” “Currently, about 1 in every 4 Medicare beneficiary is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. For many of them, the words in this ad ring hollow, and the promise that ‘benefits will remain the same’ is just as fictional as the town of Mayberry was when Griffith played the local sheriff.” (Brooks Jackson, “Mayberry Misleads On Medicare,” FactCheck.org, 7/31/10)Donnelly Voted For The Final Version Of The Obama-Pelosi-Reid Health Care Bill That President Obama Signed Into Law. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #165: Motion Agreed To 219-212: R 0-178; D 219-34, 3/21/10, Donnelly Voted Yea)

Medicare Chief Actuary Richard “[F]oster’s Office Is Projecting That More Than 7 Million Medicare Recipients In Private Medicare Advantage Plans Will Eventually Have To Find Other Coverage. That Would Cut Enrollment In The Popular Plans By About Half.” (“Medicare Official Doubts Health Care Law Savings,” The Associated Press, 1/26/11)

Enrollment In Medicare Advantage Plans Will Be Cut In Half By 2017. “We estimate that in 2017, when the MA (Medicare Advantage) provisions will be fully phased in, enrollment in MA plans will be lower by about 50 percent (from its projected level of 14.8 million under the prior law to 7.4 million under the new law).” (Richard S. Foster, “Estimated Financial Effects Of The ‘Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,’ As Amended,” CMS, 4/22/10)

“The New Provisions Will Generally Reduce MA (Medicare Advantage) Rebates To Plans And Thereby Result In Less Generous Benefit Packages.” (Richard S. Foster, “Estimated Financial Effects Of The ‘Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,’ As Amended,” CMS, 4/22/10)

The new CBO score finds that ObamaCare will cut Medicare by more than $700 billion over the next decade – 50 percent more than the $500 billion in a previous score.  Congressional Budget Office: ObamaCare Includes More Than $700 Billion In Cuts To Medicare.(Douglas Elmendorf, Letter To Speaker John Boehner, Congressional Budget Office, 7/24/12) .

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2012-08-23 11:24:54

Source: http://www.richardmourdock.com/news/mourdock-corrects-record-medicare-reform-reid-will-say-or-do-anything-buy-indiana-senate-seat