Walz to Seniors: GOP Budget Doesn't Cut It

Press Release

Today, Congressman Walz visited seniors at The Meadows in Worthington to discuss the recent budget debate in Washington, how it could impact seniors and why he voted against the Republican's 2012 proposal.

"Let there be no doubt: we have to tackle our national debt and get our fiscal house back in order. But the Republicans have taken the wrong approach," said Walz. "Eliminating Medicare as we know it and increasing health care costs for seniors isn't good for seniors and it isn't good for our country's financial security."

The Republican's 2012 proposal would end Medicare as we know it, slash support for seniors in nursing homes, eliminate education funding making college more expensive for millions of Americans and the savings would be used, not to pay down the debt, but for giveaways to millionaires, billionaires, Wall Street and big oil companies.

Walz has been willing to meet the Republicans more than half way and voted for three of their 2011 budgets. But he explained that any plan to reduce the debt must strengthen our ability to compete in the global economy, make smart cuts, improve efficiency and reform the tax system and the Republican 2012 plan falls short.

"I believe we can work together and come up with a long-term solution to address our growing debt, create jobs and grow our economy. But the Republican's proposal doesn't do right by our seniors and middle class families. I believe it's time to go back to the drawing board and come up with a more balanced approach."

According to the non-partisan CBO, the GOP plan would more than double the typical senior's out-of-pocket health care spending in 2022, compared to what their costs would be under traditional Medicare -- increasing their out-of-pocket costs by more than $6,000. In addition, according to CBO, by 2030, the GOP plan would nearly triple the typical senior's out-of-pocket spending.

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