DeLauro: Ryan Budget Robs Seniors, Middle-Class to Pay for Tax Breaks
WASHINGTON,DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) made the following opening statement at aSteering and Policy Committee hearing, "Saving Medicare for Seniors Today andin the Future" held this morning. DeLauro, Steering and Policy CommitteeCo-Chair, is a strong supporter of the Medicare program and opposes policiesand proposals--like those contained in the Ryan Budget--that would takebenefits away from millions of Americans who have already paid in to thesystem. At the hearing, DeLauro also introduced witness Judith Stein, Founderand Executive Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy and a Connecticutresident.
"LikeSocial Security, Medicare is one of the bedrock foundations of our Americansocial insurance system. For forty-seven years, it has provided health caresecurity for seniors.
"WhenLyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law in 1965, only half of Americans 65 andolder had health care coverage. Now, virtually all Americans 65 and older enjoyhealth care coverage. In the meantime, the average life expectancy of Americanshas risen by eight full years.
Inshort, Medicare has transformed what it means to be old in this country. It isa tremendous achievement that all Americans should be proud of, and one of themost successful government programs in our history.
"Thatis why it is so troubling that the Ryan-Romney budget would end Medicare as weknow it. Instead of working to support seniors and families in these difficulttimes, their budget tries to dramatically cut spending on health care forseniors, turn the program into an underfunded voucher, and end the Medicareguarantee for every American under the age of 55.
"Moreover,as journalist David Rogers recently noted in Politico, Mr. Ryan's budgetdeliberately limits the rate of growth of Medicare spending by one-half apercentage point from what he had previously allowed in his budget – to preventhis budget from being in the red. This is not about the deficit. Byincorporating this cut to Medicare spending, the budget can then cut taxes formillionaires.
"Thisis quite literally robbing seniors and the middle-class in order to give taxbreaks to the wealthiest Americans. This is not the right way forward forAmerica.
"Weshould be working to strengthen Medicare, not endangering the health andeconomic well-being of our parents and grandparents, as well as futuregenerations, in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. In today's hearing,we will hear from experts on the exact impact the Ryan-Romney budget will haveon Medicare and America's seniors. I look forward to the conversation. Thankyou."