Hoyer Seeks Medicare Cuts, Republican Voters Like Medicare, Pause for Health Care Reform

Who's Handling Hoyer

"The online, progressive advocacy group CREDO Action is targeting a top House Democrat and a leading advocate of far-reaching deficit reduction legislation, including both higher taxes and cuts to popular support programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.  In a Monday speech, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer revealed that he’s working with a bipartisan coalition of House and Senate members to fashion a 'grand bargain' on deficits, in the hope of addressing the issue -- and possibly even passing legislation -- before the November elections."

Democrats Trusted With Medicare

"House Republicans voted for a budget plan last year that would have converted Medicare from a government-run insurance program to a voucher system that seniors could use to purchase private plans.  That budget did not become law, but discussion continues among Republicans in Congress and the GOP presidential candidates about establishing some version of 'premium support' that would direct more seniors into the private market."

"Such a plan was not popular in the Kaiser survey, with 70 percent saying they wanted to keep Medicare as is, and 25 percent favoring reform.  Even Republicans favored the status quo, though by a smaller margin -- 53 percent versus 39 percent.  Half of the survey participants also opposed the idea of using any Medicare cuts to help balance the budget.  Overall, 43 percent of the participants trusted Democrats to handle the Medicare program best, while 36 percent chose Republicans."

MORE - from Kaiser Health News:  Poll: Democrats Hold Political Advantage on Medicare Debates  (after the graph)

Affordable Care Act Safe For Now ... Maybe

"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is apparently a little desperate to get his caucus talking about anything other than social issues, seeing better opportunities in focusing on the economy and gas prices.  He's told his caucus that he doesn't want any more votes on health care repeal, like today's Blunt amendment vote, until after the November election."

The Republican Reality-Free Zone

North Carolina Republican Rep. Falsely Claims There Is Nobody Living in Extreme Poverty In His State

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