Hutchison Votes to Restore Medicare Cuts in Democrats' Government-Run Healthcare Bill

Press Release

As the U.S. Senate continues debate on the Democrats' 2000-plus page, debt-increasing healthcare bill, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) today voted in favor of a motion sponsored by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) that would have asked the appropriate Senate committees to draft a new bill that does not include $500 billion in Medicare cuts. The motion failed 42 -- 58.

"The Senate Democratic leadership is determined to push forward with a bill that will lead to the government takeover of our healthcare system. And to fund it, they intend not only to raise taxes and increase fees and premiums, but to cut nearly $500 billion from Medicare," Senator Hutchison said. "Real healthcare reform will increase access and lower costs, but Democratic proposals to cut Medicare will do neither. I voted in favor of sending this bill back to the drawing board, and I will continue to fight so American seniors, especially Texas seniors, do not become victims of the draconian cuts to Medicare in this bill."

With Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Senator Hutchison has introduced a Republican alternative, S.1324, the Health Care Freedom Act of 2009, which would offer tax credits in the amount of $2,000 to individuals and $5,000 to families so that they can purchase a health insurance plan that best fits their needs.

Source