Why is Senate Democrat Ron Wyden Teaming up with GOP Rep Paul Ryan to Destroy Medicare?

[marmar]

from Balloon Juice, via AlterNet:



Why is Senate Democrat Ron Wyden Teaming up with GOP Rep Paul Ryan to Destroy Medicare?


In a move that could hurt Democrats’ ability to campaign against Republicans on Medicare in next fall’s elections, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden is teaming up with Republican Rep. Paul Ryan on a Medicare overhaul plan that would give beneficiaries a set amount to use toward buying private coverage or to pay for a traditional fee-for-service plan.


I took a quick look at the Wyden-Ryan proposal on Medicare.

Skip the first couple of pages, because those are primarily devoted to coyly extolling the virtues of Wyden and Ryan. Not those two specifically. People like them. Brave people. Honest people. In any event, once you’re past how great and brave and principled two certain members of Congress are, this is the (vague) proposal, and my initial thoughts:

For those currently enrolled or near retirement (55 or older), we propose no structural Medicare changes that will affect their benefits. For future seniors (those now 54 or younger,) we propose to strengthen Medicare by transitioning the current program toward a coverage-support plan with the choice of guaranteed coverage options – including traditional Medicare – on a Medicare exchange. The coverage-support value would be adjusted to provide additional support for the poor and sick, and reflect a reduced subsidy for the wealthy.

For future seniors (those now 54 or younger,) we propose to strengthen Medicare by transitioning the current program toward a coverage-support plan with the choice of guaranteed coverage options – including traditional Medicare – on a Medicare exchange. The coverage-support value would be adjusted to provide additional support for the poor and sick, and reflect a reduced subsidy for the wealthy

..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/748809/why_is_senate_democrat_ron_wyden_teaming_up_with_gop_rep_paul_ryan_to_destroy_medicare/

[abelenkpe]

1. Need to vote out conservadems and replace them with progressives/liberals

so that this type of crap doesn't happen. Someone challenge Wyden maybe he'll remember that he's supposed to represent the people.

[RC]

2. But when their replacements are lying to you to get elected.

And you only find out after the election... This crap will continue.

[sabrina 1]

3. We need to get to the root of the problem which is the money these people are getting from

Corporations. It would be interesting to look at who is funding them right now. This is a plan to move even more public money into private hands, and the only people who benefit from that are Corporations.

Maybe someone can look at their funding. And I am really disappointed in Wyden as he always seemed to be one of the good guys. But then who has not disappointed us? Only 3 Democrats voted against the destruction of our Constitutional Rights this past week. Rather than getting better, it seems to be getting worse.

[abelenkpe]

6. It doesn't have to.

Let's not give up before we try.

[theophilus]

16. Ain't it the truth. So much damage can be done in just 2,4,6 years! n/t

[karynnj]

25. This is the kneejerk response whenever any official does something we don't like

Now I think this is a harmful move, both to Medicare and to the Democrats' position on Medicare. However, it is not the only thing that Wyden has done. He is also the strongest opponent of the Senate version of SOPA, the bill designed to censor the internet. On that he is very good - and one of the best, most consistent liberal Democrats, Leahy, is the sponsor of the Senate bill - and Franken, who was seen here as the Senate protector of the Internet is a co-sponsor.

I seriously doubt that there are many officials that anyone would here has NEVER disagreed with. Calling them all names, conservadems or DINOs etc and calling for primarying them is not sensible. When Wyden is up again - and I think that is 2016, people will look at the totality of his record. I suspect that he will not be primaried from the left - or at all.

[abelenkpe]

31. It's not a knee jerk response when they fail to represent you repeatedly

and I don't appreciate your comment at all. How can you defend someone partnering with republicans to cut medicare? Congress has grown out of touch with those they are supposed to represent and it has been illustrated many times over the past fifteen years. Just because they sometimes get things right or throw people a bone doesn't mean they should never be challenged. Challenging them might remind them who they are supposed to represent. That's actually how democracy is supposed to work. Shouldn't be holding on to someone just because they label themselves as on our team when they clearly working against our best interests.

[karynnj]

32. I do hope that he will pull back from this - deciding it will not be helpful

What I am saying is that if you listed all Democratic Senators, who someone here as called for primarying, it would likely include every Democratic Senator there is.

I do think this plan is an unusually bad idea - for Medicare and politically. I wish though that the first response would be to attack the idea, not the messenger. I think the point where it is reasonable to speak of primarying is the year before he is up - and at that time, it is possible to consider all the bad and good things done. Here, he is not up until 2016. It might be more productive if people here, especially from Oregon, were to write Wyden arguing against this plan, saying (if true) that they have supported him in the past. As he is there for 5 more years, it would be better to get him to see what is wrong with this and the depth of people's dismay at the proposal.

I am not from Oregon, but Wyden has often been one of the Senators who has voted the way the bulk of DU prefers.

[abelenkpe]

35. You're right people definitely should contact Wyden and express dismay

Read an article earlier here today that the White House is not open to the idea anyway so phew!

[The Magistrate]

4. Because, Sir, He Is Bucking For the 'Useful Idiot' Award 2012 From The Washington Post

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. Just heard about this on Hartman. I guess it's because he's a stupid motherfucker. Of all goddamn

people, FUCKING RYAN???!!! Yeah I'm pissed.

[Doctor_J]

14. Not stupid, corrupt

he's been bought by Big Medico (Insurance, Pharma, Nursing Homes).

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

15. I stand corrected. nt

[karynnj]

26. We do not know this

It was clear that he was annoyed when the HCR bill was designed that his and Roberts' alternative was ignored. He spoke often of it being the bipartisan alternative - and it had some support by people here angry with Baucus. I suspect that had it ever been seriously considered as the vehicle for HCR, Roberts and the other Republicans would have found flaws - just as they refused to back the plan that they were given a chance to impact.

Now his idea there was not as bad as this idea. His HCR bill was competing with the bill that was passed. This is competing with the single payer Medicare system which it really can't legitimately compete with - unless the private plans get larger subsidies than Medicare or if they depend on "cream skimming" - in which case they will doom Medicare as we know it.

Cream skimming would be where a private company offers a rate dependent on heath, making it attractive to the those that are healthier. It will likely be that they can not vary the price, but another way to do this is to design benefits that have low preventative costs , but high deductibles on illnesses and injuries. This makes the plan better for people who are healthy, but worse for the most fragile or sickly. If you can deal with one year of the paying the full high deductible, this could save you money because of the lower costs for the services you use while healthy. This assumes that people are free to change every year. Then you could see people select these when healthy and switch to standard Medicare as they get chronic illnesses. Then if the voucher provided the same dollar amount, you actually create a situation where the higher administrative costs of the private plans are more than compensated by the higher medical costs per person. Meanwhile, Medicare will have higher costs per person, but presumably they would be constrained to the amount they get from all the vouchers of people on Medicare.

[butterfly77]

7. Another

republicon

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. Wyden will be hounded out of office for this

Medicare is universally popular. From the sound of Thom Hartmann's callers this morning, it sounds like they're all calling Wyden's office to give him hell, some even asking whether it's legally possible to recall him. I predict a quick backtracking on his position. Hartmann ran clips about Ryan's special love for Ayn Rand and he called Rand a sociopath, discussing her fixation during her life on a serial killer. Hartmann questioned why any Democrat would play ball with Ryan.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. WOW!! This is very suprising. I thought for sure that Wyden is one of the more progressive ones.

Didn't know this, though I know of Paul Ryan's love affair with Ayn Rand.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Until recently, Thom was an Oregon resident

so he knows exactly what he's talking about.

[immoderate]

9. Wyden? He should be dumped because of this.

Makes him a corporate, austerity, supply-side, sell out.

I think it's Oregon. I'm sure they have better.

--imm

[Bluenorthwest]

23. Many, way better...

I can think of several Oregonians in politics I'd support for Senate. Steve Novik who ran against Merkley in the 08 primary would be my first choice, he's running for Portland City Council right now. He's great.

[immoderate]

24. Even here in Florida, I knew that Oregon had some good progressive politicians.

I thought Wyden was better than that, though. If he's up for reelection, this should get him primaried out!

--imm

[jwirr]

10. What state does Wyden represent?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. Oregon.

[mmonk]

11. Bipartisanship.

Bipartisan Republicanism.

[MilesColtrane]

12. Why?

He's got well over a million reasons.

[Mimosa]

13. Follow the money! Bumping for great chart. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. Baffling! Ron Wyden is not a conservadem. He's actually fairly progressive!

Why on earth is he doing this?

[bullwinkle428]

20. He probably calculated that he could get away with this garbage, as he's not

up for re-election until 2016.

Guess what, Ron...liberals have a LONG memory.

[BlueIris]

21. He's standing in for more high profile Democrats in order to "test market" this concept.

Wyden, stuck out here in Oregon, helps the Party evaluate support for this insane idea without risking what Democrats in bigger regions (with more electoral votes) would be risking.

Mr. Wyden? We don't have Diebold here. And your voters will only tolerate so much crap before you pay the price.

[karynnj]

28. Was that what he was doing in 2009 with his bill with Roberts too?

I doubt that he is standing in for anyone else. It is possible that he is trying, as many Democrats are, to try to create bipartisan plans rather than continue the dysfunctional split there is now. This is however very misguided in this instance as it undermines Medicare, the budget (as the private companies really are more expensive than Medicare) and the Democratic political position on Ryan's voucher program for Medicare. The Republicans will easily conflate this plan with the original very unacceptable Ryan plan and argue that it has bipartisan support. The fact is that people need to be told that the existing single payer Medicare is less expensive than private companies would be and there are much better ways to lower the costs - just as the outstanding Medicare head the Republicans would not confirm was doing. His methods not only would cut costs, but do so while improving the quality of care.

[cascadiance]

29. He also has 5 more years left in his term, since he just got reelected...

I'm betting that also factored in to this "test market" decision.

[cascadiance]

27. What pees me off is that now perhaps a Rethug will win our special election to replace David Wu...

I don't want to yet again have a damn Republican being my congressman like I had to live with in San Diego with the likes of Randy Duke Cunningham and Brian Bilbray.

The timing of this crap by Wyden is going to rub a lot of independent seniors in our district here in Portland the wrong way, and will perhaps swing them to vote for the manipulative slime Corniilles instead of Susan Bonamici. I'm already a little bummed at her for subsequently supporting the South Korea free trade agreement right after the recent primary where she was non-committal on it and the other two contenders were aligned against it.

Completely throws out the recent nice history he had in leading the fight against the "Protect IP" act, and being one of the few to vote against the Defense Appropriation's bill.

I wonder if he, Carl Levin, and some other Dems were at some drug parties in DC lately?

[xchrom]

30. bi partisanship that gives the repukes the 'win'.

way to go.

[Blue_Tires]

33. Why?? Because one of the interest groups paid him to, that's why...

[flamingdem]

34. This is nothing less than a traitorous and stupid move by Wyden

The Ryan plan is a major threat should it ever gain momentum.

What an idiot.