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Debate over dueling Medicare plans

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    Politics of health care continue to heat up

  • Duration 6:01
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Medicare is a promise.

And we will honor its.

A Romney -- administration will protect and strengthen Medicare for my mom's generation.

For my generation and for my kids and -- Presidential nominee congressman Paul Ryan says the biggest threat to Medicare is obamacare and that the Romney Ryan -- will put a stop to that.

But could seniors fall through the cracks of the president's health care is dismantled.

Joining us have a fair bounce debater democratic congressman John Garamendi and Republican congressman nick -- lady we understand that.

Congressman while they may be having some audio -- so congressman Garamendi let me start with you.

The republicans' biggest criticism has been recently that the new health care law.

A moves 716.

Billion dollars out of Medicare is that at fair characterization.

But the question is what does -- do with the 716.

Billion dollars and where's it come from.

Most of it comes from the insurance companies that have been receiving an unnecessary bonus for the advantage programs.

And the rest of it comes from waste fraud and abuse that is in the Medicare system.

The other question is where does that money go it goes right back in the benefits for seniors.

And for others not and the law specifically says not one nickel.

Can be taken from the benefits themselves every benefit is guaranteed.

Furthermore.

There's not my words these are the words have the AARP that says the Ryan Romney Republican budget actually will end the Medicare guarantee.

For seniors now and into the future.

Congressman Albania -- you can hear us out -- you into this conversation as well how do you respond to charges by the Democrats that.

Essentially what congressman Ryan has proposed in his plans and I know that those are being worked together he's not the top of the ticket ultimately governor Romney will make decisions and and issue policy on -- on his own -- where he stands on some of these Medicare changes.

But there's a lot of attention to what congressman Ryan's plans have been so far the fact.

That they will pull wind up hurting seniors by taking away Medicare as they now know what it's.

Sure and I can't hear now thanks I apologize for that.

What you've just heard and John it's good to see again.

What you've just heard were the attacks that were on the original Romney planet 200911.

Not the plan that he offered in 2012 remember.

He got together with senator widen to come up with a bipartisan proposal that changed what mr.

Garamendi was talking about -- a second ago and the new Ryan proposal that mr.

Romney has adopted.

Also keeps traditional Medicare on the table as an option for everybody.

So to come back and say look AARP is against -- that with an older plan it changes Medicare as we know what that's an older plan.

-- you know in this business we get the sort choose what we fight against time to time and the Democrats and eight including the -- money -- -- sort of attacking something that is no longer on the table and that's that's unfortunate that we need to have the debate if there was one thing I agreed with.

Wholeheartedly with Paul when he gave his speech in Tampa is that we absolutely have to have.

A real debate about this we welcome it we can't sit here and fight -- straw man and argue about proposals that were made for five years ago.

Congress to get any what do you what do you make of the fact that there is something bipartisan -- there was at one point with congressman Ryan and senator widen out there is that something you'd be willing to look at.

Well congress senator Wyden has moved away from the proposal that actually came before the House of Representatives.

I was insurance commissioner California for eight years and I can tell you once you begin to divide.

Future beneficiaries.

From the existing beneficiaries the existing program will fail and those -- that's an actuarial fact that will happen.

And it is.

Clear in the 2012.

As close -- 2011.

Romney Ryan Republican budget and and mr.

Romney has bought into the Ryan budget.

That it will terminate the guarantee of Medicare.

For future beneficiaries and because of the nature of insurance the existing beneficiaries -- -- -- -- and in media.

Had ever increasing increase in their share of the cost of Medicare.

That's not my talk got -- by every ballot and this list.

Analysis that has been done the issue and so what you have here is a situation which the Medicare guarantee which has been available to every.

Person who turns 65.

That guarantee -- yes they'll be given a voucher voucher that overtime.

And initially and overtime will be insufficient to pay for medical care.

And let's understand the population that's 65 and older is a variance is a population that has the highest health care cost.

And so if you're given -- -- that doesn't keep pace with the cost as well as the incident of illnesses.

Then you're going to find a shifting of costs from the Medicare program to the individual as well this a situation right which -- -- that program will fail.

Neighboring congress -- back -- for quick response here final question to you in our latest polling when we asked who would do a better job of protecting Medicare.

A 45% said they went with the Obama by 1942%.

-- with Ronnie Bryant so can run eighteen turn around those numbers.

Oh sure and I think you're starting to see those numbers get better as folks realize that a lot of what.

My colleague is telling you.

It is this is designed to frighten seniors.

There's only one program that protects the current seniors which is the Republican program that.

That they obamacare actually impact -- if you're 77 years old obamacare changes your Medicare program.

If you're 77 years -- the -- program does not the -- program is the only one that actually preserves Medicare as it currently exists as an option if you have to function under obamacare.

Current recipients will be impacted I think what you're seeing in the numbers is -- folks are actually reacting to the facts are taking the time especially seniors that they got who's telling the truth.

And what you heard John talk about today is attacking an old plan only the -- Ryan's plan protects Medicare as we know it today.

Rights amendment congress relaxing effect congressman Garamendi unfortunately we're out of time we got to leave it there but we thank you both of you and -- hope -- come back since.

Thank you.

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