’)Republican lawmakers who voted in 2003 for Medicare expansion paid for by increasing deficits oppose the current bills that reduce deficits.
All current GOP senators, including the 24 who voted for the 2003 Medicare expansion, oppose the health care bill that’s backed by President Barack Obama and most congressional Democrats.
The Democrats claim that their plan moving through Congress now will pay for itself with higher taxes and spending cuts and they cite the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for support.
By contrast, when Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House in 2003, they overcame Democratic opposition to add a deficit-financed prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The program will cost a half-trillion dollars over 10 years, or more by some estimates.
In explaining this, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch actually said that six years ago, “it was standard practice not to pay for things.” Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine says, “Dredging up history is not the way to move forward.” Of course, neither is voting “no” on health care and insurance reform.
