The Cruelness of It All
Rich Lowry
The Corner
Senate Republicans are sending this around:
<<< DEMS ON MEDICARE CUTS: “IMMORAL,” “CRUEL”
Senate Dems Seek To Embrace Nearly A Half Trillion In Medicare Cuts Yet Just 4 Years Ago Called A Fraction Of That “Immoral” And “Cruel”
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “Unfortunately, The Republican Budget Is An Immoral Document. … Let's Look At What Is In The Bill Before Us. The Budget Increases Burdens On America's Seniors By Increasing Medicare Premiums, And We Have Not Seen What The House Is Going To Give Us. It Cuts Health Care, Both Medicare And Medicaid, By A Total Of $27 Billion.” (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S.12286, 11/3/05)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): “It Does Us No Good To Fix Old Problems By Creating New Problems. This [Budget] Bill Does Just That By Helping Doctors With Higher Reimbursement And Passing The Cost Onto Seniors...” (Sen. Kerry, Press Release, 11/2/05)
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D-CT): “For Example, This Bill Cuts Funding For Medicare And Medicaid, Which Provide Health Care To Poor Children, Working Men And Women, The Disabled, And The Elderly.” (Sen. Dodd, Congressional Record, S.12334, 11/3/05)
SEN. JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D-WV): “The Provisions Of This Bill Related To Medicare And Medicaid, But I Am Sorry To Say That In The End, This Bill Will Deal A Terrible Blow To Those Programs. And The Effects Will Certainly Be Felt By Our Neediest And Sickest Citizens. … This Proposed Budget Would Be A ‘Moral Disaster Of Monumental Proportion.’” “I am extremely concerned about how this legislation will affect the people in my State of West Virginia. I believe that the effect will be very painful indeed. This bill cuts $10 billion from Medicaid, on which our most vulnerable members of society depend for basic health care. I have fought very hard to improve the provisions of this bill related to Medicare and Medicaid, but I am sorry to say that in the end, this bill will deal a terrible blow to those programs. And the effects will certainly be felt by our neediest and sickest citizens. In a letter to the Congress, the National Council of Churches said of this budget bill, ‘It violates all the fundamental Christian values of loving thy neighbor, caring for the poor, and showing mercy.’ In fact, they said that this proposed budget would be a ‘moral disaster of monumental proportion.’ I think it is a very sad day when the Senate of the United States would vote for such legislation, especially in the context of a fiscal policy that is focused on giving additional tax cuts.” (Sen. Rockefeller, Congressional Record, S.12332, 11/3/05)
SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D-CA): “Mr. President, I Strongly Oppose The Reconciliation Bill Before The Senate. The Bill Would Cut Vital Programs For The Middle Class, Elderly, And Poor … That Is Why I Cannot Believe Only 2 Months After Katrina, We Have A Bill That Would Cut Medicare And Medicaid By $27 Billion, increase Medicare premiums for seniors, cut the availability of affordable housing, and cut support for our farmers by $3 billion.” (Sen. Boxer, Congressional Record, S.12335, 11/3/05)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI): “People Who Rely On Medicare And Medicaid Are Going To Be Hurt By This Bill.” “The bill before us today is the first part of a three-part budget reconciliation process set up to help carry out that misguided budget. Budget reconciliation is a special process that gives privileged short cuts under the rules of the Senate. … This bill before us cuts reimbursement for several types of Medicare providers including nursing facilities, hospitals and managed care. This bill also places caps on payments for Medicare and Medicaid services. People who rely on Medicare and Medicaid are going to be hurt by this bill.” (Sen. Kohl, Congressional Record, S.12339, 11/3/05)
SEN. HERB KOHL (D-WI): “I Urge My Colleagues To Reject This Bill—And The Irresponsible And Cruel Budget Of Which It Is Part.” “Mr. President, I am in reluctant but adamant opposition to the reconciliation bill before us. … I'm also concerned about the increased burden this bill places on seniors through additional cuts in the Medicare program and an increase in Medicare Part B premiums. ... I urge my colleagues to reject this bill—and the irresponsible and cruel budget of which it is part.” (Sen. Kohl, Congressional Record, S.12336, 11/3/05)
SEN. JACK REED (D-RI): “Significant Portions Of The Reduction That Are Achieved In This Reconciliation Bill Are Achieved By Cuts In Programs On Which Low- And Moderate-Income Americans Rely. The Senate reconciliation package includes a total of $39.1 billion in spending cuts over 5 years, of which $10 billion will come from Medicaid and Medicare.” (Sen. Reed, Congressional Record, S.12328, 11/3/05)
THEN-SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY): “As Millions Of Seniors Struggle With Medical Bills, This Bill Slashes $6.4 Billion From Medicare Over The Next 5 Years … Making It More Expensive For Their Seniors To Visit Their Doctor This Year Instead Of Last.” “As millions of seniors struggle with medical bills, this bill slashes $6.4 billion from Medicare over the next 5 years, including a $1.6 billion increase in Medicare Part B premiums, making it more expensive for their seniors to visit their doctor this year instead of last.” (Sen. Clinton, Congressional Record, S.14119, 12/20/05)
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