Spike Maynard vows to keep government out of Medicare

by: Clem Guttata

Mon Apr 19, 2010 at 08:14:00 AM EDT

Spike Maynard now has a campaign website. From the "Why Spike" page:

Why Spike

In addition to protecting coal and other jobs, Maynard said he is running because he is:

[...]

* For small government
And I am against the government take-over of healthcare

[...]

* For preserving good, affordable healthcare for West Virginia seniors
And I am against any cuts in Medicare benefits for elderly West Virginians

Why, indeed?

Update: This should go without saying, but just in case... Medicare (emphasis mine):

Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria. The program also funds residency training programs for the vast majority of physicians in the United States. Medicare operates as a single-payer health care system.

Medicare spending is growing steadily in both absolute terms and as a percentage of the federal budget. Total Medicare spending reached $440 billion for fiscal year 2007 or 16% of all federal spending and grew to $599 billion in 2008 which was 20% of federal spending. The only larger categories of federal spending are Social Security and defense.

Why Spike

In addition to protecting coal and other jobs, Maynard said he is running because he is:

   * For keeping cheap electric power rates for West Virginia families
     And I am against cap and trade or any scheme that will raise our power bills even one penny

   * For small government
     And I am against the government take-over of healthcare

   * For reducing the national deficit
     And I am against the failed eight hundred billion dollar stimulus package

   * For treating terrorists as enemy combatants and for trying terrorists in military tribunals
     And I am against giving terrorists Miranda warnings and other civilian criminal rights and against having terrorist trials in any American city

   * For free-enterprise and open competition
     And I am against taxpayer funded Wall Street and big-bank bailouts

   * For fair, common-sense environmental rules and a reasonable permit process
     And I am against unreasonable attacks on the coal industry.

   * For preserving good, affordable healthcare for West Virginia seniors
     And I am against any cuts in Medicare benefits for elderly West Virginians

Well, at least there's one bit of common ground. On that last point, I'm also for fair, common-sense environmental rules. Ones that put workers and communities first and corporate profits second... that it only fair, right?

And, don't worry Spike, we're all about well-reasoned critiques of the coal industry around here. I'm also against unreasonable attacks on anyone or anything.