WV Republicans Send Mixed Messages on Federal Budget
Capito is Praised for Cuts While GOP Looks the Other Way on McKinley
Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Republican Party and other tea party groups are praising Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito for her vote supporting the GOP's 2012 budget, the Ryan Plan, which dramatically cuts Medicare and federal highway spending. Meanwhile Congressman David McKinley was one of just four Republicans who voted against the measure. Every Democrat voted against the radical cuts.
"West Virginia Republicans are sending mixed messages on this radical plan to cut Medicare," said West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio. "David McKinley campaigned on cutting the deficit, but now it appears he is running for political cover. Their Chairman, Mike Stuart, praised Congresswoman Capito for voting for these cuts, but he is silent on McKinley. It's clear that their Party's leadership supports these radical cuts and the public will see through this game of hide-and-seek."
Background:
· Explaining the four 'nos' on the Ryan Plan. David McKinley - "he may be concerned about redistricting..." Politico, 4/15/11
· Congressional Budget Office: GOP Budget Raises Health Costs for Retirees. "Most future retirees would pay more for health care under a new House Republican budget proposal, according to an analysis by nonpartisan experts for Congress that could be an obstacle to GOP ambitions to tame federal deficits. ... The budget office gave two reasons future retirees can expect to pay more. First, private plans would cost more than traditional Medicare because of such factors as higher administrative costs. Second, the federal contribution would grow more slowly than health care cost inflation, leaving a bigger gap for beneficiaries to pay." AP, 4/6/11
End Medicare As We Know It. "The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills." Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11
