Joe Courtney Pays Visit to Mansfield Senior Center
For nearly an hour, Courtney spoke openly to a small group of seniors about their concerns.
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Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney paid a visit to the Mansfield Senior Center on Tuesday, speaking briefly about the Republican budget proposal for the 2012 fiscal year, before fielding questions from residents.
The congressman spoke out against the GOP Budget Resolution, which he said would replace Medicare with a voucher program.
“From my perspective this [proposal] is really kind of eroding the … genius of the Medicare program,” said Courtney, adding that the Republican plan would force seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare to nearly double in the first year.
“The public opinion polls are really pretty strongly against this. …I definitely will never support that radical of an overhaul,” said Courtney.
“I think that the Republicans are all about wealth and the preservation of wealth,” resident Ida Millman told Courtney. “...I see the Democratic Party as being more concerned with mutual community support.”
In answering questions on Medicaid, Courtney said that in many respects, the Republicans proposal is worse than that for Medicare. “To say you’re going to cut the federal government’s contribution by a third in the name of giving them flexibility, thanks but no thanks,” said Courtney. “That is a loser proposition for every governor and every state legislature and certainly every health care provider that depends on Medicaid.”
On the topic of Social Security, Courtney said that Republicans have proposed that the system be held to a standard of a 75-year solvency, which means that trustees must use a 75-year feasibility projection under the plan. “It is a ridiculous standard to apply to a retirement program,” said Courtney.
“… In my opinion we can figure out a way to balance the books in this country without going to, in really my opinion, fundamental social contract programs that really have made a huge difference in people’s retirement dignity and access to quality health care,” he said. “We’re a great nation. We should be able to figure out a way to do that more efficiently … but not by drastically undercutting people’s guaranteed access to benefits.”
Resident Ed Sicard said that he appreciated Courtney’s visit.
“I thought this was very informative,” he said.
“I thought so too,” said resident Cynthia Johnson. “Joe’s good. He’s a good guy.”
Courtney’s visit to the senior center coincided with Older Americans Month, a time to recognize seniors who have made contributions to society.
Mr. Nobody
12:25 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011
Don't forget for a second that Joe Courtney voted yes for socialized healthcare/ObamaCare. Joe believes he can decide what is best to do medically for your family and with your healthcare money better than you or your doctor, not only that, but enforce it with the full power of the federal government.
Joe has no moral claim to decide these things for anyone. I work honestly for my money. I love and want to protect my family and have every moral right to do this without Joe's interference. My family's health care decisions should remain private and between my family and my physician. Joe should run his own family any way he see's fit and stay out of my family's decisions.
Nothing is stopping people like Joe and others who support socialized healthcare from forming collectives where they can make all the rules they want about funding, who qualifies and what's covered or not covered. Hell, the world's their oyster. The reason they use the federal government to do this is because they want to fund their utopia with other people's money more than their own. There is no other reason they need to FORCE those who want no part of it in it. To be a philanthropist means to give of yourself, not enslave others to fund your programs.
Joe stands for nothing more than BIG INTRUSIVE government and less individual freedom.