Bush seeks to reduce Medicade and charge seniors more for Medicare, all to pay for Iraq?

Question

Which is more improtant rebuilding and refereeing a civil war in Oraq or the health care of our nations seniors and disabled? (563 b is less than they spent in Iraq!)

Bush, citing the need for fiscal responsibility, proposed reducing by $101 billion over five years the spending growth of the two health programs, which serve 93 million people and will cost the government $564 billion this year. One of his most controversial ideas is to charge wealthier seniors higher Medicare premiums for the second time in the program's 41-year history.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17075561/from/RSS/

Libertairian- yup all the highjaclers but 2 were saudi born and raised, bin laddens money still comes from there!

Answer 1

I am a republican and that does not mean I support all of his decisions, and this one along with immigration are his failures.

Answer 2

I don't think the U.S. debt can be significantly reduced until we raise revenue and reduce some costs across the board. The programs you mention that should be cut do have value, but the share of the budget spent on the post office, air shows and NASA is so small that further cuts to these programs wouldn't put a dent in the federal debt. Federal Budget Expenditures 2010 Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP 21% Defense and Security %20 Social Security %20 Safety Net Programs 14% (child tax credits, SSI, unemployment insurance, food stamps, etc.) Interest on national debt 6% Benefits for Veterans and Federal Retirees 7% Transportation Infrastructure 3% Education 3% Scientific and Medical Research% Non-security international (State dept programs, disaster relief, etc.) 1% All other 2% NASA's budget is less than 0.5 percent of the overall federal budget The post office does not have a line in the federal budget for operations. It is supposed to be self-funding. However; it is in debt and has borrowed money from the U.S. Treasury. Added in edit: Most of the postal service debt is related to a law that requires the postal service to pre-fund 75 years worth of the health insurance costs for future retirees. Also; the postal service doesn't have a budget from the federal government, but it is not free to make cuts like a private business can. I wonder where you are getting your information; because it is not accurate. The U.S. postal service has borrowed a total of $15 billion; that is total over a few years and not a yearly amount. The postal service can not borrow any more from the treasury. So, this is what I see: A one time total of $15 billion for the postal service; and selling it may not recoup that borrowed money. NASA's budget this year is $18.7 billion The federal deficit is about $15 trillion. 1 trillion is equivalent to a million million, or one thousand times one billion. Even if we added in the Department of Education funding, including college grants, of $69 billion; it would still take more than 500 years to pay off the dept by cutting these programs. One solution is an improved economy; tax revenues go up in a good economy. However; I believe that people who believe that the debt can be reduced with little pain to anyone by cutting a few programs that the don't see the value of are dreaming. The debt won't go down without a vastly improved economy, and likely cuts to programs some people count on.

Answer 3

Paul, Medicaid has been in the hands of the states since 1996, when Clinton disbanded the federal system.

The federal government provides limited funding, so long as states meet certain criteria. States have not been meeting that criteria.

I stopped reading the very biased article when it continually lumped Medicaid and Medicare together. Obviously, the journalist is playing on the ignorance of America.

Medicaid and Medicare are two separate and distinct entities, and the author is trying to gather in the AARP. They did the same thing before the election. Told retirees that Bush would do away with Medicare. It hasn't happened.

Answer 4

This is a double talk scam.

When Bob Portman (Bush's budget man) explained it, he said people making over $100K a year on SSI would have their medicare cut back.

First of all how many people make 100K on Social Security. If they are that rich than they most likely have a private doctor aboard their personal jet.

Bush and the entire Government are liars.
.

Go big Red Go

Answer 5

Reduce? Please tell me how you get "reduce" based on the fact that the outlays are growing at 6-7% each year.

Perhaps you can give us the in-depth analysis as to how a 6-7% annual growth in these [unconstitutional] outlays is insufficient?

And perhaps you can explain how Medicare is even constitutional.

I won't be holding my breath for these answers.

Answer 6

You gotta remember that this is the same man that claimed that he cut the deficit by borrowing the money from Social Security. It's like saying that you reduced your credit card debt by using your mastercard to pay off your visa. He has no idea what a budget is.

You also have to remember that he is a "compassionate conservative".

Answer 7

It will save a lot of money but at what cost? It will charge seniors for Medicare and will affect hospitals and students who have medicare. All to pay for his war, that is something that truly disgusts me.

Answer 8

Mr. Bush has to make up the money somehow. Funny how the republlicans think the people of Iraq are more important than u.s. citizens.

Answer 9

i agree. if we're not going to hit terrorism where it counts(saudi arabia), we should pack up and get the he** out. let the UN do their jobs for once.we need to quit spending the american dollar in other countries and start spending it here.

Answer 10

It's just another example of how caring and compassionate he is!!! Thank you George!!