Jewish Dems to Rep. Tom Reed: Your Votes Place Our Seniors At Risk

NJDC — May 10, 2011 – 2:36 pm | Election 2012 | GOP Hypocrisies | Health Care | Republicans Comments (0) Add a comment

The National Jewish Democratic Council today called upon Representative Tom Reed (R-NY), who will be addressing a Republican Jewish Coalition event in New York City, to explain why he voted to support drastic cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, severely altering the way these programs operate - placing our seniors at risk. In addition, the NJDC asked Rep. Reed to explain why he recently lauded the GOP budget plan, which severely restricts—if not eliminates—seniors’ access to government assistance for quality health care.

NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris said:

“Representative Tom Reed didn’t just vote for a bill that has endangered our seniors; he has been one of its most enthusiastic cheerleaders. The congressional Republican budget plan would slash Medicare and Medicaid along with other programs America’s seniors depend on. Reed’s position is unfortunate and he must explain himself immediately. Does Reed stand with America’s seniors, or does he stand with the Tea Party?”

Reed’s appearance in front of a group of Jewish Republicans would be the perfect venue for Representative Reed to explain his views. Groups and individuals from across the American Jewish community are now and have traditionally been committed to the dignity of our seniors and the programs that support them. Today’s appearance is the time for Reed to declare once and for all if he can be trusted to fight for the values of the American Jewish community.

In April, Reed called the congressional Republican budget—which makes deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other social safety net programs—“exactly the kind of plan we need to pull our country out of this economic mess.” [Press Release, April 5, 2011] Such positions that place America’s seniors in jeopardy demonstrate that Reed, as an individual, cannot be relied upon to defend the programs of utmost concern to American Jews.

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities reported that the GOP “claims that converting Medicaid to a block grant will enable states to do more with fewer resources,” but the claim does not withstand scrutiny. Medicaid costs significantly less per beneficiary than private-sector care, and its costs per beneficiary have been rising more slowly than private-sector health costs. Low-income children, seniors, and people with disabilities would be hit the hardest, since they constitute the bulk of the program’s beneficiaries.

 

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