Representative Allen West Tries to Slip Into Constitution His Extreme Plan to Cut Medicare, Social Security in Order to Provide Tax Breaks for Millionaires

West Plan would Cost Florida Thousands of Jobs

In poll after poll and in countless town halls back home, the public has overwhelmingly rejected House Republicans and Representative Allen West’s budget to essentially end Medicare in order to pay for tax breaks for Big Oil companies and millionaires. On Tuesday night, Representative West doubled down by trying to slip into the constitution his extreme plan that would make severe cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The measure would also cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and keep unemployment high for years to come while protecting tax breaks for big oil and millionaires.

“The American people have overwhelmingly rejected Representative Allen West and House Republicans’ extreme budget to essentially end Medicare in order to pay for tax breaks for millionaires,” said Ryan Rudominer, spokesman for the House Majority PAC. “Refusing to get the message, West tried to slip into the constitution an extreme plan that would cost thousands of Florida jobs and make severe cuts to Medicare and Social Security while providing tax breaks for millionaires.”

The House Majority PAC has previously run an ad against Representative West for voting to essentially end Medicare in order to protect tax breaks for millionaires.

BACKGROUND

West Plan Would Keep Unemployment High for Extended Period of Time, Could Cost as many as 700,000 Jobs.

According to analysis for the Economic Policy Institute, a balanced budget amendment would severely cripple the rate of job recovery, and would keep unemployment levels high for year to come.

“If previously in effect or if implemented today, a BBA would depress our nascent recovery. This policy would deprive government of the ability to step in and act during a recession,” they wrote. [Economic Policy Institute, 6/22/11]

As well, the “Cut, Cap and Balance Act” would result in the loss of 700,000 American jobs. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]

West Plan Would Cut Medicare and Social Security

Though the measure ostensibly exempts Medicare and Social Security, a closer examination from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds that “reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]

In addition, the bill further enforces the Republican budget resolution by limiting total federal outlays – including Medicare – at the Republican budget’s percentage of GDP in fiscal years 2013 through 2021. Over the past 20 years, the consumer price index has consistently risen at a slower rate than the cost of health care, in effect forcing cuts to Medicare. [, 7/15/11; Forbes, 4/09/11; Northern Trust, 4/08/11]