Bruning Proposed Raising Social Security Retirement Age To 70, Capping Medicaid. “‘Fixing this will involve serious conversations about entitlements,’ Bruning continued. ‘Nelson continues to vote toward layering on the entitlements. The problem is that we can’t get to the point where the government is involved in every point of people’s lives. We just keep spending whatever it takes and borrow it from the Chinese. We need to make Medicaid and Social Security stronger for the future — they are great programs but it can’t continue the way it’s being done.’ Bruning suggests raising the retirement age to 70 and putting a cap on Medicaid allowances.” [York News-Times, 9/9/11]
Brunning Supported Increase in Retirement Age for Social Security. “Attorney General Jon Bruning said Wednesday he’s ready and willing to tackle entitlement reform if elected to the Senate next year. Bruning said he’d support a gradual increase in the Social Security retirement age for younger workers while assuring that no one 55 or older would be affected by the change.” [Lincoln Journal Star, 4/14/11]
Bruning “Applauded” Paul Ryan Budget. “He also applauded a GOP plan by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that calls for changes in Medicare benefits for future workers. He said he could support a plan where all retired workers are guaranteed basic medical care — and are given the option to buy additional private coverage.” [Omaha World Herald, 4/13/11]
Ryan Budget Would “End Medicare As We Know It.” The GOP budget included proposals to convert the federal share of Medicaid to a block grant to states. It also called for converting Medicare for persons currently younger than 55 into a “premium support system” through which the government would pay private insurance companies directly for each enrollee. The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reported, “The Ryan budget plan would cut federal spending on Medicaid, which provides health care for the poor, and begin distributing money by block grant to states. The plan would do away with Medicare’s direct payment for health care for seniors, replacing it with a voucher system in which recipients choose private insurers. The Congressional Budget Office found that part of the plan, which would take effect in 2022, could nearly double out-of-pocket costs for seniors.” In an April 7th, 2011 editorial, the Newark Star-Ledger warned that Paul Ryan’s plan would “end Medicare as we know it.” [Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 4/16/11; Newark Star-Ledger Editorial, 4/7/11]
Published: Jan 1, 2011