PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued the following statement today on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s refusal to state if Medicare is constitutional:
“As if the opposition to the Affordable Care Act of Donald Trump’s hand-picked Supreme Court nominee wasn’t dangerous enough, now she’s unwilling to state if Medicare is constitutional,” said Pennsylvania Democratic Party spokesman Andres Anzola. “This backwards position jeopardizes the health and safety of more than two million in Pennsylvania who rely on Medicare for care. Our seniors deserve better than Donald Trump and his dangerous allies.”
BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S ATTACKS ON MEDICARE:
- Despite repeated promises to leave Medicare untouched, Trump’s 2020 budget proposal would have cut more than $800 billion — or roughly ten percent — from Medicare over the next ten years. Earlier this year, Trump’s 2021 budget proposed around $500 billion in cuts to Medicare.
- If the Trump-Republican lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act is successful, seniors could have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare “donut” hole would be reopened. In Pennsylvania, over 275,000 seniors each saved an average of $1,137 on prescription drugs annually thanks to the closure of the loophole.
- Trump and Washington Republicans oppose giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower prices, even though it’s one of the most useful tools to lower drug costs.
# # #