Jim Martin: We have ample proof that trillion dollar deficits are not the road to prosperity, but the road to ruin. The Ryan budget plan will save Medicare from the brink, and our nation from the cliff.
(Alexandria, Virginia) – The 60 Plus Association, the nation’s largest conservative seniors organization and acknowledged alternative to the liberal AARP, announced its endorsement of the budget produced this week by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), which balances the nation’s books in 10 years, simplifies the tax code, and reforms Medicare for future retirees.
Under Ryan’s budget, spending by the federal government will increase, but at a much slower pace, allowing economic growth and increased tax revenues to help close the yearly budget deficits by 2025. Most significantly for seniors, the Ryan proposal seeks repeal of Obamacare and puts forward serious reforms to preserve and protect Medicare, which even former Obama White House Chief of Staff Bill Daly admitted would be broke in less than 5 years.
Added 60 Plus Chairman and Founder Jim Martin, “On behalf of the 7.2 million senior activists of the 60 Plus Association, we applaud Chairman Ryan for his leadership as the President fails to submit a budget by the February 4th deadline as the law requires. Chairman Ryan not only put forward a thoughtful and sober plan to save our nation from crushing debt, but to reform the teetering Medicare program, which tens of millions of seniors and seniors to be are counting on.
“Let’s be clear, if we do nothing Medicare will not be there for future retirees. Paul Ryan, we seniors owe you an immense debt of gratitude for taking on the challenge of saving a teetering Medicare program that everybody acknowledges is in severe financial straits. All the Democrats do, however, is wring their hands and demagogue you with their favorite talking point to scare seniors, ‘Ryan’s plan destroys Medicare as we know it.’ Bah humbug, I say.
“This absolutely sickening demagogic misrepresentation should be thrown back at them since Medicare as we know it was significantly put on the road to destruction with passage of what’s now commonly referred to as Obamacare. Look at what’s happening — the chickens are coming home to roost. So far Obamacare has brought us doctor shortages, skyrocketing insurance premiums, people being tossed from their employer-based plans, and higher taxes, even on medical devices seniors rely on, such as wheelchairs, hearings aids and pacemakers.
“And on the horizon are long lines of people seeking access to medical care, and guess who stands first in those lines — the elderly that’s who. And this President wonders why he lost the senior vote both times, by a smaller margin in 2008 but a landslide margin in 2012. Because seniors did not want Obamacare.
“Budgets are more than just numbers and calculations — budgets reflect the values and character of a nation. By steering our nation to a balanced budget in 10 years and reforming the way Washington scores its baseline, the Ryan budget embodies the hope of tens of millions who desperately want to see fiscal sanity return to our nation’s capital.
“To conclude, the Ryan plan represents real hope for our nation, as the path we’re on will not have a happy ending for our children and grandchildren. Doing nothing about our debt and the looming insolvency of Medicare is not leadership. Chairman Ryan’s budget is.”
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