FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 3, 2009

Isakson Votes to Protect Seniors from Half-Trillion Dollars in Medicare Cuts

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today criticized the Senate’s failure to approve an amendment that would have sent the Democrats’ flawed health care proposal back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to remove over $440 billion in Medicare cuts from the bill. The amendment failed by a vote of 42-58.

“I find it troubling that Democrats in Congress would create new programs with these Medicare ‘savings’ rather than make a commitment to preserve Medicare and to prevent its impending bankruptcy in 2017,” Isakson said. “I also fear these cuts will inevitably lead to cuts in benefits for senior citizens.”

The amendment also included a Sense of the Senate resolution that any funds generated from new policies to address waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare should be used to strengthen the Medicare Trust Fund rather than used to create a new federal health care entitlement.

The Democrats’ bill reduces Medicare spending by $464.6 billion, including $120 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage and nearly $200 billion in permanent cuts to all Medicare provider payment updates including hospitals, hospice, home health and nursing homes.   

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