The realities of the Republican budget are starting to come into focus, especially health care. Vouchers to insurance companies will cost seniors and society more. Today, Members of Congress are being inundated by visits from hospitals and health care providers who are in a panic about the Medicaid block grant that will allow the Federal Government to shift its burden for the poor and the disabled to States who often cannot or will not make up the difference in the fund loss. Most disappointing, Republicans have abandoned the work on Medicare reform. The reform provisions in the Affordable Care Act used to be bipartisan. Instead of increasing the total cost of health care and shifting the burdens to the elderly, poor and disabled, we should be taking our medical spending--already the highest in the world--and showing how we can get more out of it. ____________________
Share & report
More from Earl Blumenauer
I couldn't disagree more with my distinguished colleague who just spoke. Even with 1,500 proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, it remains a disgrace. The majority talks big about cutting money, but they fail on…
I will vote for this legislation to stand with those advocating for human rights in Iran however I have concerns that the legislation could prohibit the President's ability to adjust sanctions as national security conditions warrant. I am…
Today I will vote to pass the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. This legislation would remove barriers for research into cannabis and facilitate access to an increased supply of cannabis for research purposes. The…
I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in permitting me to speak on this. It is not quite as simple as my friend from Florida implies. Today we are voting to upend the healthcare system and interrupt patient care. Ending the public health…





