WSJ: McCain Plans Federal Health Cuts

[L. Coyote]

* OCTOBER 6, 2008

McCain Plans Federal Health Cuts
Medicare, Medicaid Spending Would Be Reduced to Offset Proposed Tax Credit
By LAURA MECKLER - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html


John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs.

The Republican presidential nominee has said little about the proposed cuts, but they are needed to keep his health-care plan "budget neutral," as he has promised. The McCain campaign hasn't given a specific figure for the cuts, but didn't dispute the analysts' estimate.
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John McCain arrives at a town-hall meeting Friday at Colorado State University.

In the months since Sen. McCain introduced his health plan, statements made by his campaign have implied that the new tax credits he is proposing to help Americans buy health insurance would be paid for with other tax increases.

But Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Sen. McCain's senior policy adviser, said Sunday that the campaign has always planned to fund the tax credits, in part, with savings from Medicare and Medicaid. .........

[Justice]

1. I have heard Obama make this point, but it has not been repeated very often

generally.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. There goes Florida! You lose. n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

3. esp since it is the Wall Street Journal saying it. nt