As the 50th Anniversary of Medicare approaches, the DSCC is highlighting the various ways in which vulnerable Republican Senators like Pat Toomey have sought to undermine and dismantle Medicare. It’s an election year, so Toomey and these Senators are working to run as far and fast as they can from their records, but this week we’re shining a light on the votes they’ve cast and comments they’ve made that indicate how they really feel about the program that has allowed millions of Americans the chance to retire with dignity.
In perhaps the clearest signal of his intent to end Medicare as we know it, Senator Pat Toomey voted to turn Medicare into a voucher program. And to make sure voters know it wasn’t a fluke vote, he voted for the voucher plan three times. In Pennsylvania, over 4.2 million seniors and soon-to-be seniors could be impacted if Medicare were turned into a voucher program. [Census, 2010; KFF, 2012; CBO,9/13]
Pat Toomey: Toomey Voted For The Ryan Budget Three Times. [Vote 46, 3/21/13; Vote 98, 5/16/12; Vote 77, 5/25/11]
“Pat Toomey has voted multiple times to turn Medicare into a voucher program, a dangerous proposition that could increase costs for seniors across the country,” said Sadie Weiner, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Toomey is desperate to do anything to hide his record on Medicare, but unfortunately for him his votes to end Medicare as we know it are clear as crystal, and voters won’t be fooled by election-year rhetoric.”
