AARP's flip flop on Medicare

To pay for its massive plan for government-run health care, Democrats plan to gut Medicare. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has proposed an amendment to stop that looting scheme, but the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which is nominally non-partisan, opposes McCain's plan.

Just a few months ago, AARP's president, Barry Rand, referred to Obama as "our beloved president." Lovely.

It's my firm belief that AARP is in the tank for Obama and the Democrats. Especially after reading this batch of stories collected by the Senate Republican Communications Committee about how until recently AARP was a staunch defender of Medicare.

AARP ON $6.4 BILLION MEDICARE CUTS IN 2005: "STRONGLY OPPOSES"

AARP: This budget reconciliation conference agreement systematically undermines the critical protections built into both the medicaid and Medicare programs. Instead of asking for shared sacrifice to achieve budgetary savings, this agreement hands an early Christmas gift to the pharmaceutical and managed care industries at the expense of beneficiaries. We strongly oppose the budget reconciliation conference agreement scheduled to come before the Senate for a vote today. Congress should know that if the conference agreement becomes law, the AARP and its more than 36 million members, will work tirelessly to hold those accountable for passing such irresponsible policy. (AARP, Press Release, 12/19/05)

"Trying to fund hurricane relief or the War in Iraq on the backs of retirees is inappropriate," said John Rother, policy director for AARP. The cuts would have "A very negative impact," Rother said. ("'Operation Offset' Meets Resistance," The Hill, 9/27/05)

"Over five years, the budget-reconciliation bill would reduce Medicare spending by $6.4 billion and Medicaid spending by $4.8 Billion, according to a House Budget Committee summary issued yesterday." ("AARP Officials Say They Will Remember Budget Bill In '06." The Hill, 12/20/05)

"AARP strongly opposes the current conference agreement. This is irresponsible Policy and will harm millions of low-income Medicaid beneficiaries, millions Of older persons who need long-term care, and unfairly increases Part B premiums for all Medicare beneficiaries," Kirsten Sloan, chief health lobbyist for AARP, said Sunday. The group sent a letter to (then-Senate Majority Leader Bill) Frist on Monday, calling the legislation 'irresponsible policy.' ("Medicaid cuts similar to House version in budget conference retirees is inappropriate," said John Rother, policy director for AARP. The cuts would have "A very negative impact," Rother Said. ("'Operation Offset' Meets Resistance," The Hill, 9/27/05)

AARP ON $283 BILLION IN MEDICARE CUTS IN 1995: "WE'RE PREPARED TO FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT."

AARP DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL AFFAIRS: "But reductions in Medicare of this magnitude are too large. The question is: How much, how fast, and who pays." "The House Budget Committee proposed to trim $ 283 billion from the program for the elderly by 2002; the Senate cuts would be $ 256 billion. … 'No one disputes the need to address the budget deficit,' said Martin Corry, director of federal affairs for the 33 million-member American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). "But reductions in Medicare of this magnitude are too large. The question is: how much, how fast, and who pays?" ("Lobbyists May Set Tone In Medicare Clash," The Washington Post, 5/15/95)

AARP LOBBYIST: "The reductions proposed in the House And Senate go far beyond what is needed to shore up the trust fund for the next 10 years." "The reductions proposed in the House and Senate go far beyond what is needed to shore up the trust fund for the next 10 years," said Patricia Smith, a health care lobbyist for the AARP. ("Lobbyists May Set Tone In Medicare Clash," The Washington Post, 5/15/95)

AARP SPOKESMAN: “We're prepared to fight with everything we've got." "We recognize that Medicare has financing problems. ... But if all the talk of reform is just a code for making tremendous program cuts and shifting costs onto the elderly -- for the purpose of cutting taxes for the well-to-do and balancing the budget -- then we're prepared to fight with everything we've got,’ said Martin Corry, spokesman for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). ("Huge Medicare Cutback Foreseen By Packwood," The Washington Post, 2/28/95)

AARP ON $53 BILLION IN MEDICARE CUTS IN 1993: "IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING."

AARP LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR: "It would be devastating." The nation's foremost lobbying organization for Medicare recipients, the American Assn. of Retired Persons, led the charge. "It would be devastating" to seniors, AARP legislative director John Rother said at a news conference. The $53 billion of Medicare restraints that Clinton already has proposed for deficit reduction "stretches it to the limit," Rother said, adding that Moynihan's proposal to trim an additional $35 billion from the program would be unacceptable. ("Clinton, Senate Democrats Ok Energy Tax Cut," Los Angeles Times, 6/8/93)

AARP LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR: "If we're talking about Medicare cuts alone as a way of financing health reform, we would fight that with all our strength -- We've gone as far as we can go down that road." Meanwhile, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Capitol Hill Thursday, trying to calm rising concerns about the proposal to restrict the growth of Medicare and Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals, saving $238 billion by the year 2000. … "If we're talking about Medicare cuts alone as a way of financing health reform, we would fight that with all our strength -- we've gone as far as we can go down that road," said John Rother, the AARP director of federal legislation and policy. ("Senior Citizens Up In Arms Over Cap On Medicare In Health Plan," Los Angeles Times, 9/10/93)

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