AARP: Proposed Republican budget would upend vital programs & shift costs to older Americans

[Liberty Belle]

Source: East County Magazine (San Diego)

Calls for bipartisan effort needed to strengthen Social Security


April 5, 2011 (Washington D.C.)—The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) today issued sharp criticism of the budget proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and backed by House Republicans.

Nancy A. LeaMond, executive vice president of AARP, said the Republican proposal to reduce the deficit “lacks balance and would result in a large cost shift to current and future retirees. The Chairman’s proposal, rather than tackling skyrocketing health care costs, would simply shift these costs onto the backs of people in Medicare,” she warned. “It would undermine Medicare’s promise of secure health coverage—a guarantee that future seniors have contributed to through a lifetime of hard work.”

LeaMond urged Congress to be mindful of the impacts of budget cuts on “real people, not just the numbers.” She added that if Congress is serious about reining in Medicare costs, it should start by allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices and speeding up access to generic versions of expensive biologic drugs.

The GOP has threatened a government shut-down if their budget demands are not met, pushing for cuts far deeper than those in the President’s proposed budget.

Read more: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/5862

---

I think it's sickening that the GOP has the gall to propose cutting taxes for the richest 25% while imposing cuts that will hurt the elderly, the poor, the sick and the disabled. The impacts of this greed are being felt in so many ways. Today I covered a small town's council meeting where they're about to eliminate their parks and recreation department - cutting programs that help the poorest children. Also today our local community college district announced its hiking fees for college kids again while slashing classes to the bone. We're all paying more for less--except the wealthy, who want to pay less and take more. They should all be ashamed of themselves!