Richmond, VA - Yesterday, George Allen doubled down on a Republican House Plan which shifts proposed sequestration cuts entirely to domestic programs, including Medicaid benefits that support more than 82,000 Virginia seniors. As the Patch reported today:
On sequestration, Allen has said he supports the plan passed by the U.S. House — and Tuesday called that "a good starting point.” That plan, authored by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, restores pending defense [cuts] by taking funds from Medicaid, school-lunch subsidies and other social safety net programs.
This is the same plan Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said would cause “confrontation, gridlock and a greater likelihood of sequester,” and that would increase costs for more than 82,000 current seniors who receive health care through Medicaid coverage.
In fact, George Allen's sequestration plan actually cuts key health care services for elderly Americans on multiple fronts -- repealing the Affordable Care Act would roll-back benefits like free preventive care and prescription drug coverage that's saved seniors an average of $600 each year. Slashing these benefits is just the beginning of the reductions to Medicare and Medicaid that George Allen's all-cuts approach to the federal budget would necessitate.
While Tim Kaine has offered a balanced, bipartisan plan to avoid the sequestration cuts, George Allen's proposals would slash services for vulnerable and elderly Americans all to keep his promise to Washington lobbyist Grover Norquist. More gridlock, higher costs, and increased confrontation - just a few more reasons Virginia can't afford to re-elect George Allen.
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