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Grand Bargain Watch: Yesterday Plouffe with the head-on. Today, Dick Durban with the head fake:
UPDATE 1-Senior US Democrat Durbin urges talks on MedicareWASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Dick Durbin, a senior Senate Democrat and close ally of President Barack Obama, urged fellow liberals on Tuesday to consider reforming Medicare and Medicaid, the U.S. healthcare programs they have long fought to shield from spending cuts.
The timing of his message - just as Democrats and Republicans struggling to avoid the "fiscal cliff," looming early next year - and its prominence may signal that Democratic leaders and the White House will discuss social programs at the fiscal policy negotiating table. "Progressives should be willing to talk about ways to ensure the long-term viability of Medicare and Medicaid," which help pay for the care of the elderly and needy, Durbin said in remarks to the liberal Center for American Progress.
--snip--
"My very conservative Republican brother, who had no use for social programs, started counting the days until he was eligible for Medicare," Durbin said.
"If anybody wants to talk about a later eligibility age for Medicare, what I want to hear is the assurance and guarantee that people like my brother will have access to affordable health care and insurance," before they reach the age, he said. Echoing the stance of Obama and other Democrats, Durbin said changes to Social Security are needed but since the retirement benefits program did not contribute to the deficit problem, it should be tackled separately.
He proposed a new bipartisan commission to recommend a plan to keep Social Security solvent for the next 75 years. Congress should be required to vote on the changes, he said. Such a panel shored up the pension program in the mid-1980s.
The timing of his message - just as Democrats and Republicans struggling to avoid the "fiscal cliff," looming early next year - and its prominence may signal that Democratic leaders and the White House will discuss social programs at the fiscal policy negotiating table. "Progressives should be willing to talk about ways to ensure the long-term viability of Medicare and Medicaid," which help pay for the care of the elderly and needy, Durbin said in remarks to the liberal Center for American Progress.
--snip--
"My very conservative Republican brother, who had no use for social programs, started counting the days until he was eligible for Medicare," Durbin said.
"If anybody wants to talk about a later eligibility age for Medicare, what I want to hear is the assurance and guarantee that people like my brother will have access to affordable health care and insurance," before they reach the age, he said. Echoing the stance of Obama and other Democrats, Durbin said changes to Social Security are needed but since the retirement benefits program did not contribute to the deficit problem, it should be tackled separately.
He proposed a new bipartisan commission to recommend a plan to keep Social Security solvent for the next 75 years. Congress should be required to vote on the changes, he said. Such a panel shored up the pension program in the mid-1980s.
Much more at the link! After watching David Plouffe lovingly stroke the idea of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, Dick Durban comes in with the sneaky fake-out.
But who's he trying to fake out?
Two Fakey Fakey™ points awarded:
+1 I won't consider raising eligibility age of Medicare...unless I have assurances!
+1 Catfood Comission III
See also: Sen. Dick Durbin: Medicare, Medicaid Fair Game in Talks to Avoid Fiscal Cliff
“From my side of the table, bring entitlement reform into the conversation,” Durbin said on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” “Social Security — set aside … doesn’t add to the deficit. But when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid, protect the integrity of the program, but give it solvency for more and more years.”
But Durbin ruled out raising the age of Medicare eligibility as a potential reform.
“We’ve got to make sure that there is seamless coverage of affordable health insurance for every American,” Durbin said. “My concern about raising that Medicare retirement age is there will be gaps in coverage or coverage that’s way too expensive for seniors to purchase.”
But Durbin ruled out raising the age of Medicare eligibility as a potential reform.
“We’ve got to make sure that there is seamless coverage of affordable health insurance for every American,” Durbin said. “My concern about raising that Medicare retirement age is there will be gaps in coverage or coverage that’s way too expensive for seniors to purchase.”
Again, he rules it out...unless of course someone can allay his concerns. Classic.
Does he have a history of this at least as far bask as April 2011, you may ask? He does!
Tell Dick Durban to get his hands off Social Security!!!
TOOT! TOOT! GRAND BARGAIN EXPRESS HEADED TO A HOUSEHOLD NEAR YOOOOOOO!!
Who will be the next Forward-Thinking™ Democrat to grab the Third Rail and shrug? Tune in tomorrow!
PB
11 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
And you know what the worst thing about this is?
He must actually believe that we are so freakin' stupid that we would even consider buying this!
