Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, today condemned Republican efforts to jeopardize Medicare, putting our seniors’ health and financial security at risk.

“The so-called budget plan coming from House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan is designed to take money and benefits from our seniors to put more dollars directly into the pockets of private insurance companies. This is dangerously irresponsible and costly for seniors who already are making tough financial choices on fixed incomes. The Republicans have made it crystal clear that their intent is to privatize Medicare with no regard for the impact on our economy or the health and welfare of tens of millions of Americans. They want to slash benefits and eliminate guaranteed health care coverage for seniors at a time when Americans finally have gained the upper hand over the abusive practices of insurance companies. 

“Grandstanding to satisfy the extreme whims of the Tea Party with nonstarter proposals to dismantle a bedrock program such as Medicare will not solve our fiscal problems and must be rejected.  What we need is true compromise that requires Republicans and Democrats to work together to produce a budget that makes smart cuts without endangering our economic recovery or the health of our citizens.”

 ###