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jpak

(41,756 posts) Thu Jul 23, 2015, 05:41 PM Jul 2015

Bush, after 'phase out' comment, says Medicare needs reform [View all]

Source: USA Today

Jeb Bush, under fire from Democrats for saying he would “phase out” Medicare, said Thursday the program has to be reformed because of unsustainable costs in the long run.

“It’s an actuarially unsound health care system,” Bush told the crowd at a town hall in New Hampshire, adding that “$50 trillion dollars of debt has been accrued and if we do nothing, that’s the burden that we’re going to place on your children and grandchildren.”

Bush spoke a day after making Medicare comments at another town hall: “We need to figure out a way to phase out this program for others and move to a new system that allows them to have something — because they’re not going to have anything.”

Democrats pounced on the “phase out” comment, saying Bush wants to gut the old age health insurance program that has been around for half a century.

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Read more: http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/23/bush-clarifies-claim-to-phase-out-med

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Bush, after 'phase out' comment, says Medicare needs reform [View all] jpak Jul 2015 OP

Hmm, I didn't hear "reform", I heard "phase out". TwilightGardener Jul 2015 #1

He forgot to use the code word for phase out Gman Jul 2015 #15

He said "phase out" except for those NOW getting it. Good luck, 64 year olds. Faygo Kid Jul 2015 #2

Is that the whiff of desperation I'm detecting? Fritz Walter Jul 2015 #3

Wait until his base of old farts wake up... Historic NY Jul 2015 #12

i was just thinking that. will DesertFlower Jul 2015 #24

I do really wish there weren't ageist posts on DU. LiberalElite Jul 2015 #36

Poster was referring to the fact that Duppers Jul 2015 #40

Good for you LiberalElite Jul 2015 #42

Poppy Bush Scarsdale Jul 2015 #23

^^^^THIS^^^^ LiberalElite Jul 2015 #37

"Unsustainable costs" sounds more like our defense budget to me. Scuba Jul 2015 #4

Tomato, tomahto. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2015 #5

How about a real national healthcare system Jeb? Huh? We need Medicare for EVERYBODY. YOHABLO Jul 2015 #6

exactly. that would save medicare DesertFlower Jul 2015 #25

The fiscally responsible thing to do, then, is to raise taxes on your rich buddies to get out of jtuck004 Jul 2015 #7

Instead of shifting all that debt to our kids, flamin lib Jul 2015 #8

No, you LIAR, you want PHASE-OUT.... steve2470 Jul 2015 #9

did I say phase out? Enrique Jul 2015 #10

Just wrote (hand wrote on note card) a note oldandhappy Jul 2015 #11

I'll definitely join you. whathehell Jul 2015 #31

Thanks oldandhappy Jul 2015 #39

$50 TRILLION of debt? WTF is he talking about?? subterranean Jul 2015 #13

That was the projected combined SS and Medicare gap if you projected the programs into eternity Recursion Jul 2015 #41

"Quick Draw" Jeb has already shot off all his toes. Wonder what's NCjack Jul 2015 #14

Work harder until you die. Helen Borg Jul 2015 #16

Scrambles McScrambles Botany Jul 2015 #17

oh but 20, 40% yearly increases in premiums Astraea Jul 2015 #18

And he's supposed to be the smart one DebbieCDC Jul 2015 #19

Sad part is that he's IS the smart one in that bunch. The_Casual_Observer Jul 2015 #21

It needs reform all right Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2015 #20

i agree. my grandmother DesertFlower Jul 2015 #26

Amazing how this man thinks he can get away ion_theory Jul 2015 #22

yes Bush privatixation Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2015 #27

That is a weak walkback Gothmog Jul 2015 #28

The Bush political dynasty needs to be phased out at the ballot box. nt silvershadow Jul 2015 #29

In Repuke Speak, Reform = Cuts. whathehell Jul 2015 #30

Incredible he would even bring up the word, "Medicare," after his friend ripped it off. Judi Lynn Jul 2015 #32

Tea Party not going to like this idea lobodons Jul 2015 #33

This is supposedly the "smarter brother"? itsrobert Jul 2015 #34

Sorry Jeb! Backpedaling isn't an Olympic event n/t TexasBushwhacker Jul 2015 #35

How many misspeaks/passes does Jeb get? He clearly is not up to speaking in these times. TheNutcracker Jul 2015 #38

His dad, Poppy Bush, called it "Socialism" at its start in the 1960:s.. whathehell Oct 2018 #43

A blast from the past jpak Oct 2018 #44

One might almost view it as a "famiy tradition". whathehell Oct 2018 #45