Super Committee

Republican Acknowledges GOP Pushed Ryan Plan In Super Committee Negotiations

Brian Beutler | November 22, 2011, 12:34PM

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)

If you're having a hard time buying that one party was more reasonable than another in the Super Committee negotiations, read Republican co-chair Jeb Hensarling's obituary for the panel in the Wall Street Journal. Specifically, check out this part about the GOP's big ask:

Democrats on the committee made it clear that the new spending called for in the president's health law was off the table. Still, committee Republicans offered to negotiate a plan on the other two health-care entitlements--Medicare and Medicaid--based upon the reforms included in the budget the House passed earlier this year....

Republicans on the committee also offered to negotiate a plan based on the bipartisan "Protect Medicare Act" authored by Alice Rivlin, one of President Bill Clinton's budget directors, and Pete Domenici, a former Republican senator from New Mexico. Rivlin-Domenici offered financial support to seniors to purchase quality, affordable health coverage in Medicare-approved plans. These seniors would be able to choose from a list of Medicare-guaranteed coverage options, similar to the House budget's approach--except that Rivlin-Domenici would continue to include a traditional Medicare fee-for-service plan among the options.

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Jeb Hensarling

Hensarling To Dems: Want Higher Taxes? Agree To Partially Privatize Medicare

Brian Beutler | November 16, 2011, 3:34PM

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)

Shortly after catching heat from Democrats, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) addressed reporters in the Cannon House Office Building to revise and extend controversial Tuesday comments, which threw the Super Committee's prospects into doubt. But he indicated that the two parties are stuck in a standoff -- one they don't really have time for. And Republicans won't budge, he insisted, unless Democrats take agree to far-reaching plan to change Medicare.

"Something has to be at the Congressional Budget Office by Monday," Hensarling said.

Hensarling hinted that his hard line on new taxes might not be so hard ... but only if Democrats are willing to fundamentally overhaul Medicare.

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Social Security

GOP Congressman Ditches Social Security Privatization Bill

Benjy Sarlin | July 11, 2011, 1:56PM

A new attempt by House GOP members to partially privatize Social Security hit a snag as one of the bill's supporters ditched the group over concerns the legislation had become politically toxic.

Led by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), a handful of House Republicans have been pushing legislation that would create a voluntary, privatized version of the program. But a spokesman for seven-term Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) told the Omaha World-Herald this week that he no longer wanted to be a part of the effort.

"Congressman Terry recognizes something must be done to address entitlement reform," spokesman Charles Isom said in a statement. "While he feels this bill does not weaken Social Security, the suggestion by some that this bill is a step toward 'privatization' does not help move the conversation forward. As such he has taken his name off of the bill."

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Paul Ryan

Ryan On 'MediScare' Attacks: 'Here's The Deal On Our Medicare Plan: ObamaCare Ends Medicare As We Know It'

Brian Beutler | July 5, 2011, 1:06PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) just broke a land speed record for his pivot from decrying Democratic "Mediscare" attacks on the GOP budget to attacking Democrats for wanting to end "Medicare as we know it."

In an interview with WISN, a local ABC News Affiliate in Wisconsin, Ryan responded to the fact that his budget, endorsed by almost every member of the Republican party, is extremely unpopular.

"Whenever you lead and propose a solution to a complex problem, you're putting yourself out there to be distorted, to be demagogued to be lied about," Ryan said. "What's happening is the other party's chosen to try to scare senior citizens to try and get votes. Here's the deal on our Medicare plan: ObamaCare ends Medicare as we know it."

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Medicare

Florida Tea Party Leader: GOP Medicare Plan A 'Public Policy Nightmare'

Brian Beutler | June 20, 2011, 11:29AM

Tea Party protesters on Capitol Hill

South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson thinks the GOP budget -- and in particular its call to phase out Medicare and replace it with a marketplace for private insurance -- is a total disaster. He's saying that Republicans, including members in his sphere of influence like Rep. Allen West (R-FL), should back away from it.

In an email to fellow Tea Partiers last week, obtained by The Palm Beach Post, Wilkinson called the GOP plan a "public policy nightmare" that could trigger "huge Democratic wins in 2012," and prompt Republicans to blame the Tea Party for their losses.

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60 Plus Association

Paul Ryan, 60 Plus Defend Medicare Phase Out Plan In New Ad (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | June 17, 2011, 10:05AM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

The 60 Plus Association -- a well-moneyed group that advocates for conservative safety net policies -- is running a new ad, starring House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), to defend the GOP plan to phase out Medicare and replace it with private insurance.

"The Democrats and Obama are destroying Medicare," said Jim Martin, chairman of the 60 Plus Association in a prepared statement, before pivoting unironically. "It's time to put an end to their 'mediscare' tactics."

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Joe Heck

GOP Freshman Shuts Down Question On His Changing Social Security Position (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | June 10, 2011, 11:46AM

Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV)

Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) has decided to let his position on Social Security stand. The question now is, which one!

As noted here, Heck has done a full 360 on his contention that Social Security is a pyramid scheme in the past week. That's earned him the ire of the editors of the Las Vegas Sun and now he's trying to push the issue to bed by saying he's through answering questions about it.

Summarizing Heck's revolving position on the issue, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal asked Heck for clarification at a Wednesday town hall. "I wanted to ask about your comments around Social Security," he said. "You said at your Boulder City meeting, you used the phrase 'pyramid scheme' and then you later said "'I shouldn't have used those words,' then on the radio you agreed with someone who called it a pyramid scheme. I just want to see where it is you stand?"

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Medicare

GOP Rep Attacks Democrats For Supporting Medicare Cuts She Just Voted For

Brian Beutler | May 24, 2011, 11:26AM

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY)

Right next door to NY-26, a GOP freshman is on the defensive over her vote for the House GOP budget and its plan to slash and privatize Medicare.

Rep. Ann Marie-Buerkle (NY-25) is sending flyers to her constituents arguing that phasing out traditional Medicare and replacing it with a program of subsidized private insurance is not privatization. "The plan before Congress will not privatize Medicare or turn it into a "voucher" system," she claims. And she takes a swipe at Democrats for voting for deep Medicare cuts as part of the health care reform law, even though she just voted to maintain those same cuts.

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Health Care

GOP Sens Threaten To Block Key Element Of Health Care Law -- And They Can

Brian Beutler | May 24, 2011, 9:11AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Senate Republicans are preparing to foreclose on the Democrats' single best hope for addressing the country's structural deficit without shifting a huge cost burden on to seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries. It's a testament to the deep division between the parties on the key driver of future U.S. debt -- which might not matter if debt wasn't the high-stakes issue du jour in Washington.

Broadly speaking, there are two competing schools of thought about how best to reduce federal Medicare spending. One version works much like the House GOP budget's Medicare privatization plan -- it involves capping overall Medicare spending, and outsourcing the financing of seniors' health care to private insurers. This shifts a significant cost on to seniors themselves, but Republicans like the idea for two reasons: (1) It reduces federal spending by fiat; and (2) It rations health care via the private sector -- based on what services seniors think they'll need, and what services insurers will agree to pay for.

The Obama administration's alternative is a gentle twist on government rationing. It preserves Medicare as a single-payer system but shaves off waste-creating incentives so that over time the provision of care to beneficiaries is more affordable, more efficient, more research-based than it is now without explicitly "rationing" by declining more services over time. Or at least that's the goal.

And that's where the Independent Payment Advisory Board comes in. It's the most promising of the many new cost-cutting initiatives created by President Obama's health care law. IPAB will be tasked with implementing new ways to reduce Medicare spending, and, though its powers are limited in several key ways -- for instance, it's explicitly forbidden to "ration" health care -- its recommendations take effect almost automatically.

There's just one problem: Each of the board's 15 members has to be confirmed by the Senate. That means filibusters and 60 vote requirements stand in the way of staffing a panel that Republicans decry as a government rationing board. And months ahead of the nominations, they're telling Obama "good luck with that!"

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Medicare

Dems To GOP: Stop Lying To Seniors That Republican Budget Won't Impact Current Medicare Beneficiaries

Brian Beutler | May 19, 2011, 2:52PM

Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius

House Republicans, facing tough questions in their districts for voting to phase out Medicare and replace it with a subsidized private insurance system, are fond of pointing out that the plan they support wouldn't touch benefits for existing beneficiaries, or for people who will reach eligibility within 10 years. There are a number of problems with that plan, but top Democrats are finally pointing out the biggest one: it's simply not true.

Though many Republicans are getting jittery about their budget's Medicare plan, they're still perfectly proud of the fact that it also repeals the new health care law. But that law includes plenty of goodies for current seniors, all of which would be zapped immediately if Republicans get their way.

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Medicare

Polls Show Dangers For GOP In Pushing Ryan's Medicare Privatization Plan

Jon Terbush | April 22, 2011, 1:23PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) wants Congress to retain control of the fees that the United States Patent and Trademark Office collects and divert them to other government programs.

When Congress reconvenes next month, Republicans will begin a renewed push for a Medicare privatization plan proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). But a number of recent polls show that Republicans could have a tricky time making their case to the public.

In essence, the Ryan plan calls for privatizing Medicare and capping payments in the form of vouchers as a way to reduce spending. On it's face, the proposal garners tepid public support, particularly when presented as a necessity to reduce the deficit. However, when explained more fully, support for the Ryan plan evaporates.

Consider two polls of adult Americans released this week that framed the debate in two different ways.

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Medicare

Boehner: Our Medicare Privatization Plan Doesn't Privatize Medicare

Brian Beutler | April 13, 2011, 10:56AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

Faced with growing public skepticism of House Republicans' plans to privatize Medicare, Speaker John Boehner claimed Wednesday that the GOP's Medicare privatization plan doesn't privatize Medicare.

"There's no privatizing of Medicare," Boehner said. "We're transforming Medicare so that it'll be there for the future."

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Budget

The Cheese Stands Alone! Ryan Loses Support Of Dem Budget Guru Over Medicare

Brian Beutler | April 6, 2011, 1:45PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) at the fiscal commission.

One of the claims you'll hear a lot about the new GOP budget is that its plan to privatize Medicare has been blessed by Alice Rivlin -- a budget expert at Brookings who used to work for Bill Clinton. Except it's not quite true.

Rivlin did indeed work with GOP Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) on a version of his plan. But in an interview with Politico Tuesday she said she can't support the specifics of the Ryan plan.

"We talked fairly recently and I said, 'You know, I can't support the version that you have in the budget," Rivlin said. "I don't actually support the form in which he put it in the budget."

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Commission on Wartime Contracting

U.S. Needs To Improve Safeguards To Avoid Rehiring 'Bad Actor' Defense Contractors

Susan Crabtree | February 28, 2011, 1:58PM

The U.S. government's dependence on private contractors for work in Afghanistan and Iraq has hampered competition and favored incumbent contractors regardless of whether they have a record of criminal or fraudulent activities, according to a new report from the Commission on Wartime Contracting.

That finding was a focus of a Commission on Wartime Contracting hearing Monday that discussed methods to exact more accountability from private contractors, including recording incumbent contractors' performance assessments into a federal database accessible to all government agencies. Michael Thibault, the former deputy director of the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and former Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) chair the commission.

"If you hired somebody to paint your house and they tracked paint all over your carpet, you probably wouldn't use them again and you might even negotiate a price that was less than you originally agreed to," said Wartime Contracting Commissioner Grant Green.

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Iraq

Report: U.S. Has Wasted Tens Of Billions Of Dollars On Contractors In Iraq And Afghanistan

Susan Crabtree | February 28, 2011, 10:05AM

private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A new report from a bipartisan commission set up to scrutinize the unprecedented use of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan concludes that the United States has wasted tens of billions of the nearly $177 billion that has been spent on those contracts and grants since 2002.

The report, titled "At What Risk? Correcting Over-reliance on Contractors in Contingency Operations," said its estimate may even understate the problem because it may not take into full account ill-conceived projects, poor planning and oversight by the U.S. government, as well as criminal behavior and blatant corruption by both government and contractor employees.

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Social Security

Chart Of The Day: Analysis Shows Dramatic Social Security Cuts Under GOP Plan

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2010, 2:41PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

You hear an awful lot about how the leading Republican plan for Social Security would result in major benefit cuts and the eventual privatization of the program. But we've yet to see how severe those cuts would be for the majority of beneficiaries.

This week, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities issued a report showing exactly that. The analysis, by entitlement expert Paul Van de Water, calculates the combined effects of the two Social Security benefit cuts undergirding the Roadmap for America's Future -- a fiscal plan authored by the GOP's top budget guy Paul Ryan.

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FL-SEN

Marco Rubio's Year-Long Social Security Flip-Flop (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 4, 2010, 3:02PM

Marco Rubio

Like many Republicans -- and virtually all tea party Republicans -- Marco Rubio does not dismiss the idea of privatizing Social Security. But on the trail running for Senate in Florida, where the senior citizen vote matters even more than it does other places, Rubio has made it clear that the time for a serious debate about betting Social Security money on the stock market has come and gone. At least he does sometimes. As Rachel Maddow pointed out on her show Friday night, Rubio started out the year calling for a partial privatization before later moving to the "let's not and say we did" senior-citizen-friendly position he holds today.

The clip on Maddow came from the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald. It was taken at a Rubio event in January.

"I do think the retirement age issue is going to have to be confronted," Rubio says when asked about fixing Social Security. "The other is giving people the option of taking some of their Social Security money, at least a potion thereof, and investing it in an alternative to the Social Security system itself."

But wait, someone asks, wouldn't that mean people could lose all their Social Security money in a stock market crash if they made the wrong investments?

"Potentially," Rubio says. "It's their money."

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NV-SEN

Angle Denies Wanting To Privatize V.A. (Even Though She Said She Did)

Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2010, 11:56AM

US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

Sharron Angle has still got it. In the wake of attacks over her previous position of privatizing the Department of Veterans Affairs, Angle is now denying that she wanted to tear down the system. In fact, she says that she was calling for the V.A. to "do a better job." But of course, the original transcript says quite the opposite.

As Jon Ralston reports, Angle was asked at a fundraiser this past weekend about Harry Reid's recent ad, which attacks her as wanting to "end our promise to veterans."

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