The members of the Congressional GOP have been faced with fury and anger at numerous town hall meetings as constituents begin to realize just who is going to get thrown under the bus under the House GOP's deficit plan - and its not going to be the obscenely wealth or big business. Last night, there was a report in the Washington Post that the realization was hitting that the draconian proposal on Medicare was DOA in the Senate - and radioactive with voters - and that a Plan B needed to be developed. The Post reported as follows:*
Senior Republicans conceded Wednesday that a deal is unlikely on a contentious plan to overhaul Medicare and offered to open budget talks with the White House by focusing on areas where both parties can agree, such as cutting farm subsidies.
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On the eve of debt-reduction talks led by Vice President Biden, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) said Republicans remain convinced that reining in federal retirement programs is the key to stabilizing the nation’s finances over the long term. But he said Republicans recognize they may need to look elsewhere to achieve consensus after President Obama “excoriated us” for a proposal to privatize Medicare.
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Frankly, Eric Cantor is an embarrassment to Virginia and the man doesn't care whether or not the elderly - or at least the non-wealthy elderly - go without needed medical care or if they end up living off of dry dog food in their sunset years. I also do not understand how Cantor who is Jewish aligns himself with the Christianists who in the final analysis are also anti-Semites. I guess in his hunger for power, Cantor will happily work with those who hate him. In any event, now, Huffington Post reports that Cantor is backing away from the position reported by the Washington Post - perhaps under pressure from the loons of the Tea Party and the Christian Right who have ripped out the message of caring for the sick and poor from their Bibles. Here are highlights from HuffPo:
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WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) office sharply disputed on Wednesday night a report that GOP leaders are abandoning an attempt to dramatically overhaul Medicare as a part of budget negotiations.
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On the eve of bipartisan, bicameral debt and deficit reduction talks with the White House, the Washington Post reported that Republican leadership is ready to give up on House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) plan to gradually turn Medicare into a voucher program.
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Not true, said Cantor’s chief spokesman, Brad Dayspring. “Eric made very clear that our position is the Ryan budget which -- as you know -- assumes a debt limit increase and includes Medicare, Medicaid and $715 billion in mandatory savings," Dayspring said. "Whether the Democrats will agree to the proposals we've outlined is yet to be seen, but that is our starting point so we don't continue to kick the can down the road and make real cuts and real reforms this year."
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Asked whether that meant Republicans were sticking with Ryan’s version of Medicare reform once talks began at the Blair House with Vice President Joseph Biden on Thursday, Dayspring replied: "The starting point is the Ryan budget, period."
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“Obviously Cantor is scared out of his mind by angry seniors at their town halls, but, there are no backsies in Congress. They already voted to end Medicare,” Eddie Vale, a spokesman for the new pro-reform outlets Know Your Care and Protect Your Care, emailed before the Post toned down its headline.
Senior Republicans conceded Wednesday that a deal is unlikely on a contentious plan to overhaul Medicare and offered to open budget talks with the White House by focusing on areas where both parties can agree, such as cutting farm subsidies.
*
On the eve of debt-reduction talks led by Vice President Biden, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) said Republicans remain convinced that reining in federal retirement programs is the key to stabilizing the nation’s finances over the long term. But he said Republicans recognize they may need to look elsewhere to achieve consensus after President Obama “excoriated us” for a proposal to privatize Medicare.
*
Frankly, Eric Cantor is an embarrassment to Virginia and the man doesn't care whether or not the elderly - or at least the non-wealthy elderly - go without needed medical care or if they end up living off of dry dog food in their sunset years. I also do not understand how Cantor who is Jewish aligns himself with the Christianists who in the final analysis are also anti-Semites. I guess in his hunger for power, Cantor will happily work with those who hate him. In any event, now, Huffington Post reports that Cantor is backing away from the position reported by the Washington Post - perhaps under pressure from the loons of the Tea Party and the Christian Right who have ripped out the message of caring for the sick and poor from their Bibles. Here are highlights from HuffPo:
*
WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) office sharply disputed on Wednesday night a report that GOP leaders are abandoning an attempt to dramatically overhaul Medicare as a part of budget negotiations.
*
On the eve of bipartisan, bicameral debt and deficit reduction talks with the White House, the Washington Post reported that Republican leadership is ready to give up on House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) plan to gradually turn Medicare into a voucher program.
*
Not true, said Cantor’s chief spokesman, Brad Dayspring. “Eric made very clear that our position is the Ryan budget which -- as you know -- assumes a debt limit increase and includes Medicare, Medicaid and $715 billion in mandatory savings," Dayspring said. "Whether the Democrats will agree to the proposals we've outlined is yet to be seen, but that is our starting point so we don't continue to kick the can down the road and make real cuts and real reforms this year."
*
Asked whether that meant Republicans were sticking with Ryan’s version of Medicare reform once talks began at the Blair House with Vice President Joseph Biden on Thursday, Dayspring replied: "The starting point is the Ryan budget, period."
*
“Obviously Cantor is scared out of his mind by angry seniors at their town halls, but, there are no backsies in Congress. They already voted to end Medicare,” Eddie Vale, a spokesman for the new pro-reform outlets Know Your Care and Protect Your Care, emailed before the Post toned down its headline.
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