Aug 14, 2012

Reviews Are In: Ryan Will Cost Republican Congressional Seats in Florida

After Congressman Paul Ryan was chosen to lead the Republican ticket, Florida’s Congressional Republicans will now spend the next 85 days defending their support for Ryan’s budget that ends Medicare for seniors while protecting tax cuts for millionaires. With nearly one out of every five Floridians on Medicare, Congressman Paul Ryan will cost Republicans Congressional seats in Florida.

Take a look for yourself.

Mitt Romney returns to Florida with Medicare back as central issue [Miami Herald]

“Mitt Romney mentioned the word Medicare only twice Monday in his first Florida stop in St. Augustine after picking a running mate, but no one doubts it will be a central part of the campaign fight in this must-win state […] Vice presidential pick Paul Ryan, who advocates fundamentally restructuring Medicare, has introduced the subject of entitlement reform like never before in a presidential race. But the Wisconsin congressman’s plan, bashed as “radical” by Democrats, is risky in senior-heavy Florida.” [Miami Herald, 8/13/12]

Analysts say Ryan pick intensifies Medicare debate for Florida seniors [Palm Beach Post]

“Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate promises to intensify the debate over Medicare in senior-heavy Florida, where the issue could tip the perennial swing state’s 29 electoral votes and the presidency […] Democrats didn’t need to wait for fresh opposition research to launch attacks on Ryan. Since early 2011, they have been telling seniors around the state that Ryan’s budget plans would “end Medicare as we know it.” […] The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the plan would significantly increase the out-of-pocket costs for seniors entering the program a decade from now.” [Palm Beach Post, 8/11/12]

Ryan could be a drag on Romney in Florida [Miami Herald]  

“Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is the architect of the Ryan budget plan that makes big changes to Medicare and Medicaid and could allow for some privatization of Social Security. And that’s widely seen as a politically risky stance in Florida, a must-win state for Republicans […] Polls indicate that voters over 50 years old — who make up more than half the Florida electorate — are wary of changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which together pump about $96 billion yearly into the hands of the elderly, the infirm and the hospitals, doctors and other providers who give them care.” [Miami Herald, 8/11/12]

Romney names Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as running mate [Tampa Bay Times]

“Especially in must-win Florida, Ryan's plan to drastically change Social Security and Medicare for future recipients while cutting taxes on wealthy Americans makes him a risky choice.” [Tampa Bay Times, 8/12/12]

How Ryan will play a role in Congressional battles [Tampa Bay Times]

“Paul Ryan shakes up the presidential race but also dozens of Congressional battles. Democrats were already jumping Saturday at the chance to harness Ryan's deep cutting, Medicare changing budget plan into attacks on their opponents.” [Tampa Bay Times, 8/11/12]

Some Seniors Worry Over Ryan Selection [Wall Street Journal]

“The news that Mitt Romney picked Rep. Paul Ryan, who has suggested changing Medicare, as his running mate sparked worries over the weekend among some residents at the Stella Maris retirement community in Miami Beach—concerns that could reverberate among seniors nationwide. Mr. Ryan has proposed overhauling Medicare and Social Security—including introducing private accounts for Social Security and giving future retirees the option to choose a privately run health insurance plan.” [Wall Street Journal, 8/12/12]

Ryan's plan for Medicare will get Floridians' attention [Ocala Star Banner]

“Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate may be a risky choice in Florida as it is likely to push the debate over Medicare to the campaign's forefront […] With nearly 3 million Floridians already on Medicare, it could be a crucial issue in the nation's largest swing state, where it's a time-honored tactic in state politics to accuse your opponent of jeopardizing programs for seniors. It is often effective for two reasons: Florida has many seniors, with 17 percent of Floridians over 65, growing to 24 percent by 2030. Florida seniors go to the polls in droves, with voters over the age of 50 accounting for 49 percent of the electorate in the last presidential election.” [Ocala Star Banner, 8/11/12]

Romney's VP choice could be risky in swing state Florida [Tampa Tribune]

“Choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney made a bold statement on his campaign's central economic issues but also one that could be risky — particularly in the crucial swing state of Florida. Ryan, 42, a seven-term House member from Wisconsin, is widely viewed as the Republican Party's intellectual leader for his budget proposals, which include the most drastic alterations in Medicare and Social Security ever embraced by a national party […] Democrats, who have been using Ryan's budget proposals to attack Republican congressional candidates for a year, promised to do the same in the presidential race. They pushed studies showing the Medicare changes would add thousands of dollars a year to a typical senior's health care costs.” ” [Tampa Tribune, 8/12/12]

Paul Ryan Could Scare the Bejesus out of Florida Seniors [Business Week]  

“In March, a United Technologies/National Journal poll found that respondents prefer Medicare as currently constituted over Ryan’s plan by a 64 percent to 26 percent margin […] any threat at all to Medicare—particularly one that is hyped by hundreds of millions of dollars in ads from an opposing presidential campaign—stands to be a major political liability. In a state like Florida, filled with seniors, it could be a decisive one.” [Business Week, 8/13/12]

Romney VP choice puts spotlight on Medicare reform [Reuters]

Ryan’s “controversial reforms to Medicare will become a huge target for Democratic attacks and could hurt Romney's chances in some states with large elderly populations, including the key swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.” [Reuters, 8/12/12]

What the Paul Ryan VP pick means for Obama [Politico]  

“Ryan’s pledge to trim Medicare — even though it doesn’t impact the current crop of seniors — is a powerful weapon for Democrats in the Sunshine State.” [Politico, 8/11/12]

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