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Representative David Scott (GA-13) stated his opposition to plans to balance federal budgets by ending Medicare and Medicaid and giving tax breaks for millionaires.

“Everyone agrees that our long-term deficits need to be reduced,” Rep. Scott said. “But, I am outright opposed to the Republican plan to turn Medicare into a limited voucher and turn Medicaid into a limited block grant, while giving big tax breaks for millionaires. If we can afford $1 trillion in new tax benefits for millionaires, then surely we can find a way to keep Medicare solvent.”

The Republican Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution would end Medicare and convert it into a private insurance voucher; turn Medicaid into a block grant; and freeze non-security discretionary spending below current levels. The Republican budget also proposes extending over $1 trillion in tax breaks to millionaires.

“During past economic crises and times of war, Americans came together in shared sacrifice,” Congressman Scott continued. “We should approach this challenge in a fair way and not target deficit cuts only to seniors, the disabled and those on fixed incomes. That is neither balanced, nor fair.”

Under the Republican FY 2012 budget, the value of the Republican senior voucher program would grow with regular inflation, even though health care costs are projected to grow at a faster rate. Costs would shift from the current Medicare program to senior citizens. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that costs for new beneficiaries would nearly triple by 2030 compared with current law. There is no evidence that seniors will be able to keep their costs down without losing important and necessary medical care.

The Republican budget will raise the cost of nursing home care for millions of families. It will also undermine efforts to help people with disabilities live independent, productive lives. It does this by cutting about $771 billion from Medicaid over ten years and converting the program into a block grant to states. Currently, Medicaid covers about 43 percent of all U.S. long term care.

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