Sep 07, 2012

Lobbyists Try to Rewrite History on Dan Webster’s Vote to End Medicare

RetireSafe, a front group for Republicans and the pharmaceutical industry, is misleading Florida voters by falsely claiming that Congressman Dan Webster (FL-10) is protecting Medicare. In reality, Congressman Dan Webster has voted to end Medicare, raising health care costs for seniors, while protecting tax breaks for special interests, millionaires and corporations that ship American jobs overseas. RetireSafe is “led by former Bush and Reagan administration officials, small-government activists and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists and consultants” according to Roll Call.

“Congressman Dan Webster voted for a plan that will end Medicare, and now, he’s relying on lobbyists and special interests to mislead seniors on his vote to raise seniors’ health care costs,” said Stephanie Formas of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “While in Washington, Congressman Webster has repeatedly sided with special interests by voting for tax breaks for big oil companies, the ultra rich, and companies that ship jobs overseas at the cost of Florida seniors and the middle class.”

Background

Congressman Dan Webster Voted to End Traditional Medicare. “Ryan’s budget bill also would end traditional Medicare by capping spending and offer vouchers to buy private insurance.” [H Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12; Bloomberg, 8/13/12]

  • The Economist: The House Republican budget "ends the guarantee that all American seniors will have health insurance." [The Economist, 4/5/11]
  • Wall Street Journal: The Republican budget “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]
  • McClatchy: The House Republican budget “effectively would end Medicare for seniors.” [McClatchy-Tribune News Service, 4/5/11]

RetireSafe is Closely Tied to the Republican Party, Pharmaceutical Industry. “RetireSafe bills itself as a nonpartisan senior citizens advocacy organization, but it is led by former Bush and Reagan administration officials, small-government activists and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists and consultants.” [Roll Call, 12/1/11]

Provided Cover. “RetireSafe’s awards provided these Republicans with valuable political cover for supporting controversial bills, such as the budget proposed by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that would have dramatically revamped Medicare.” [Roll Call, 12/1/11]

Pharmaceutical Industry Bankrolled RetireSafe. “PhRMA has long supported RetireSafe, contributing $88,000 to the organization during the past three years, according to federal filings.” [Roll Call, 12/1/11]

Bulk of RetireSafe’s Budget Went to Direct Mail. “Federal records show that the bulk of RetireSafe’s expenditures, about $2.2 million, go to direct mail such as the flier that voters in Michigan received this fall praising freshman Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.) for protecting Part D. Other Republican freshmen who have won awards from RetireSafe include Reps. Jon Runyan (N.J.), Allen West (Fla.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.).” [Roll Call, 12/1/11]

Alliance for Retired Americans: Beware RetireSafe, a Front Group for the Pharmaceutical Industry. “It is funded at least in part by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the drug industry’s chief lobbying group, and has served to validate the industry’s agenda. RetireSafe’s awards provided these Republicans with valuable political cover for supporting controversial bills, such as the budget proposed by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that would have dramatically revamped Medicare.” [ARA, 12/2/11]

RetireSafe Supported Privatizing Social Security. Retirsafe.org has claimed, “Personal retirement accounts (PRAs) are good for individuals and good for the economy […] PRA is an account you own and control made up of a portion of your existing payroll taxes invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds or simple government T-bills.” [Human Events, 5/15/03]

Want the latest updates? Follow the DCCC on Facebook and Twitter: