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Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) talks to Alan about new Republican V.P. pick Paul Ryan’s budget proposal, and stance on Medicare.
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I know I don't want to welcome content Chris van Holland of Maryland you are on the Budget Committee -- the democratic counterpart.
Two -- client on the committee so that -- that long dinner with -- a couple of months ago.
You talked about stuff and -- it.
-- look we I've got along very well.
Personally and we agreed that when these stricter off.
This session of the Budget Committee that while we have buried deep differences.
On policy issues we would.
Expressed in the civil way I think we've had a really good debate in the Budget Committee and I think.
Country would.
Do well to have that debate I'm absolutely confident that that's all I -- all right and there are signs that.
What people heard about his plan and his.
For the budget the academy that the last felt like the whole night here we -- How does he take that kind of criticism.
Well what is a very passionate in is viewed side is you know from his such -- and I mean -- very.
So what -- Manifesto further Republican Tea Party.
But he believes -- -- -- I just think that its way out of touch with where the country is and I think the -- -- totally upside down.
Now he's claiming it's bipartisan because Ron Wyden and or again.
Democrat.
And he he is claiming and Republicans are claiming agree on this agree on Medicare and Medicaid I'm not sure that's exactly true.
Well first small lot -- does not support the wired budget period I mean it should say to that but I think you'd think says.
-- -- extreme.
Budget.
I know he has incredibly deep differences.
With a huge cuts -- Medicaid which.
I will hurt.
Seniors in nursing homes and other people with disabilities.
With respect to Medicare -- there's no piece of legislation that they've introduced since.
They've actually had and -- seen explanations for how it wouldn't work.
The reality is that the -- and now -- -- plan on Medicare.
Would significantly.
Ship -- Austin seniors on Medicare of course.
At a media income about 43000 dollars of the same time.
Plan would provide these huge tax breaks to the very wealthy people like.
I understand -- that -- it like plan.
I they keep going around saying it's President Obama and Democrats wanna cut 700 something billion dollars at of Medicare Medicare and yet it's really the cut in the rate of growth something Republicans actually supported -- -- -- hours Sunday when you -- -- -- there are two points and one that is.
That he -- included.
For example.
Elimination of some of their subsidies the six subsidies that were being paid to a private insurance companies under Medicare and -- called Medicare Advantage.
They were being paid -- about a 114%.
The feed -- service and -- had rather than provide these windfall.
To the private insurance industry let's use some of those savings to strengthen Medicare benefits and and do other things.
Now what is breathtakingly.
Hypocritical about this is that Ryan Republican plan takes every -- Of those savings that they are now demagoguing.
But unlike the democratic plan which -- -- some of those dating back to strengthen the prescription drug benefit.
And make sure that seniors got more preventative health care.
The Republican plan would immediately.
Need higher cost or of people and a prescription drugs that high cost.
And immediately mean higher cost for people.
For preventive care under Medicare so -- other words.
They put all money here compared but they didn't it give it back to strengthen benefits in fact they will immediately.
Reduce those benefits -- just.
They're claiming they're gonna use that money to save Medicare in the Democrats are doing the opposite.
Well as you know the nonpartisan.
Congressional Budget Office.
Has set -- number one.
They planned over votes in years and over twenty years.
Will actually reduce that deficit and a number of ways and the reality is that.
With respect to the Medicare program.
We've made some of the savings that I just mentioned.
And those savings will extend the -- Medicare.
And the fundamentally different approach here in the long -- is that we believe we have to do modernize Medicare.
I changing certainly -- sent -- we need to move away from it for service system.
Port one that reimburses health care providers based on the out of here where's the Republican approach.
Simply transfers as escalating cost.
Under seniors and elderly say this that the Republican -- -- -- Romney plan.
-- seniors on Medicare a much worse deal much less security.
Band members of congress in the airport.
We are gonna congressman Chris -- -- of the Merrill and what happens if the money that's no longer going to providers to say that.
500 billion dollars is transferred to the consumer is that a possibility.
Well right now those savings are gonna benefit consumers because they will lower the costs of Medicare so for example.
See I'm now under is a double and always let -- -- People on Medicare part B have to pay for their position.
Services for their premiums will be reduced because the overall cost.
Will be reduced so some of those -- do go directly.
To consumers on Medicare.
My concern is -- revised and increased their fees try to make up the difference.
Well under the proposal that we've gotten -- we do we do contain those costs and one of the ways we do it.
Is by changing the way we reward providers so it is used to -- That if a patient get sick on Medicare every time they go to the hospital -- hospital gets paid.
Even if they're being readmitted to hospital because of the same condition in other words are still had no incentive.
To follow up with the patience to coordinate care because -- -- kept getting paid every -- the patient came back here.
One of the things that are formal -- -- to change this to.
Accountable care organizations are now hospitals.
Have been insensitive.
To -- those patients.
Out of -- hospital in -- absolutely.
Necessary that's a lot better way to contain costs.
And simply you know transferring those process folks are Medicare which is what the writer -- and.
I'm glad to have this explained.
Are you surprised by the pick of -- -- the running mate for Mitt Romney.
Well if the goal was to excite the Republican.
Party base I think clearly it accomplishes that objective but -- goal is to attract independent.
Centrist voters I think it really telling those voters.
Take a -- because.
If you look at the lion the -- -- -- -- on the budget yeah it's -- it is a very.
Ideologically rigid documents and uncompromising.
Approach it essentially.
In trying to Grover Norquist pledge.
Which says you know we're gonna are not gonna ask for anymore from the very wealthy to reduce the deficit and the math -- that means everybody else it's harder whether it's.
Seniors on Medicare as we've been talking about or whether it's -- -- our kids' education -- cutting.
Important investments that are kind of infrastructure research and it.
Do you think this is a net.
A net positive for the democratic ticket.
Well for the readers we've been talking about because I think this campaign will be about fundamental issues of fundamental choices.
And I think.
That choice I made it reflect.
Something that -- the Tea Party and the lightweight.
What I think a plan.
That doubled down contacts.
-- repeat like Mitt Romney.
I at the expense of everybody else's expense of jobs the economy you're not gonna go over well -- the American public so I only welcome.
This debate it's -- debate we've.
Having the Budget Committee but I think -- -- -- in this debate will be good for the country I think in the end it will certainly help the president's prospects for reelection.
Dogs and appreciate -- -- once again thank you so much -- of the program.
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