Resolution Opposing the Elimination of Medicare
WHEREAS in 2011 the Republicans in Congress voted with near unanimity for the Paul Ryan (R-WI) plan to replace Medicare with a voucher system in which seniors would receive coupons for partial payment toward the same kind of inadequate insurance that they could not afford before Medicare was enacted; and
WHEREAS later in 2011, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined Ryan in proposing a gradual elimination of Medicare through the attrition of healthier seniors dropping it in favor of cheaper private insurance designed for cherry-picking the healthy, thus making traditional Medicare solely responsible for paying for the care of actual sick people, severely undermining its long-term financial viability; and
WHEREAS in March 2012, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and other Republicans proposed the complete elimination of Medicare in 2014; and
WHEREAS the 2012 budget passed by House Republicans completely eliminated Medicaid payments for nursing home care; and
WHEREAS Deficit Commission member Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has proposed that nothing is off the table in 2012 budget discussions, including severe cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security; and
WHEREAS enacting any of these proposals amounts to financial ruin for or actual mass murder of some unknown number of our most vulnerable citizens; and
WHEREAS 56% of voters in 2012 are expected to be 55 years old or older;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that _____________ insists that defense of Medicare and Medicate be made signature campaign issues in 2012; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that _____________ support vigorous attacks on the Republican Party for their plans eliminate Medicare be mounted at every level, and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that _____________ refuse to support any Democrats who collude with this Republican goal, and
THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that _______________ pledge to mobilize the public for a strong defense of our lifeline programs.
Submitted to 2012 precinct caucuses by ________________