Heller Will Vote “FOR” Ryan Budget Again!

Heller Says He’s Proud to Vote Again for GOP Plan to End Medicare as We Know it

Las Vegas, NV – Rep. Dean Heller proved yet again yesterday just how out-of-touch he is with Nevadans when he announced that not only would he vote again for the GOP budget that ends Medicare as we know it when it comes to a vote in the Senate, but that he was “proud to be the only member of Congress who will get to vote for it twice.”

“As if it isn’t outrageous enough that Dean Heller will vote again for the GOP budget that eliminates Medicare as we know it in order to pay for government giveaways to Big Oil, now he is saying he’s proud of it,” said Zach Hudson, spokesperson for the Nevada State Democratic Party.

“The Heller/GOP budget plan would increase the out-of-pocket costs seniors pay for their healthcare by $6,000, as well as reopen the Medicare ‘donut’ hole resulting in a near doubling of the cost of prescription drugs Nevada seniors pay,” Hudson added.  “While Heller may be proud of voting to eliminate Medicare as we know it and to raise seniors’ insurance premiums by thousands of dollars, the only ones proud of him are Big Oil executives and members of the TEA Party.”

Background:

Seniors Would Pay Twice as Much Than Under Current Medicare Coverage. According to analysis by the Center for American Progress, under the Ryan budget seniors would pay twice as much out of pocket as they would under the current Medicare plan. The analysis found “In 2022 65-year-olds would be forced to pay twice as much for care than they would under Medicare: $12,500 compared to $6,150.” [americanprogress.org, 4/12/11]

House Republican Budget Dismantles Medicare. The budget proposal release today would dramatically change Medicare by turning it into a voucher based system and direct Medicare funds to private insurance companies instead of consumers. [House Republican Budget, accessed 4/5/11]

Costs Would Rise. Republican Budget Chairman Paul Ryan agreed that his plan for Medicare “would be to shift more of the burden of health care costs out of their own pockets to seniors.” [Fox News Sunday, 4/3/11]

Essentially End Medicare. “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]