Tell Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand: Oppose the Medicare kill switch

Some Senate Democrats are supporting spending caps that sounds reasonable, but really contain a "Medicare kill switch." Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and tell them to oppose spending caps, because independent analyses1 show they would wreck Medicare? Senator Charles Schumer Phone: 202-224-6542 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Phone: 202-224-4451   Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

Republicans want to kill Medicare. And until recently, they weren't shy about it—235 House Republicans voted to eliminate Medicare outright.²

But after facing heated criticism at town halls, they're changing their tactics. Now, instead of attacking Medicare head-on, they're using more reasonable-sounding proposals to disguise their plan to eliminate Medicare—basically a hidden Medicare kill switch.

And unfortunately, some Democrats are helping them.

Democratic Sens. McCaskill³, Manchin⁴, and Mark Udall⁵ have all endorsed spending caps that would actually trigger massive cuts to Medicare within a few years—that's the Medicare kill switch.⁶ Republicans are going to try to force a Medicare kill switch into the upcoming, must-pass bill to keep the U.S. from defaulting on its debts, and bipartisan cover from Democrats helps them do that.

Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand right now and tell them you're counting on them to oppose spending caps that contain a Medicare kill switch?

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here.

"Government spending cap" sounds much more reasonable than "eliminating Medicare," which is why Republicans want to use the cap to disguise the Medicare kill switch.

But the CAP Act, which Sen. McCaskill is co-sponsoring with Republican Sen. Bob Corker, has been called "the second worst idea in Washington."⁷ And an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that it would "inevitably force enormous cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and possibly Social Security."⁸

Sen. Udall's plan is no better. And any Democrat who signs on to a plan containing a Medicare kill switch is just giving Republicans the bipartisan cover they need. Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand right now and tell them not to fall for the Republican tricks? We need them to oppose any plan containing a Medicare kill switch.

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here.

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Amy, Michael, Eli, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Proposed Cap on Federal Spending Would Force Deep Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 15, 2011  
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3471

2. "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 277," Clerk of the House of Representatives, April 15, 2011 
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll277.xml

3. "McCaskill & Corker Introduce Bill to Cut Spending Over 10 Years," Office of Senator Claire McCaskill, February 1, 2011
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1183

4. "Manchin Endorses Spending Caps, Giving Bill Momentum," Roll Call, April 26, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=208334&id=27289-10220574-4SkMNEx&t=4

5. "Udall Co-sponsors Balanced Budget Amendment," Office of Senator Mark Udall, February 1, 2011
http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=893

6. "Proposed Cap on Federal Spending Would Force Deep Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 15, 2011  
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3471

7. "The second worst idea in Washington," The Washington Post, April 15, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=208287&id=27289-10220574-4SkMNEx&t=5

8. "Proposed Cap on Federal Spending Would Force Deep Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 15, 2011
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3471

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