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August 20, 2012

Obama, Ryan Trade Barbs on Medicare Plans 
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President Obama continues to invoke the record of newly announced
Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on the campaign trail.
On Saturday, Obama compared his signature healthcare law to Ryan's
proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher program.

President Obama: "So here's the bottom line. My plan saves money in
Medicare by cracking down on fraud, wasted insurance, company subsidies.
Their plan make seniors pay more so they can give another tax break to
millionaires and billionaires. You'd think they'd avoid talking about
Medicare given the fact that both of them have proposed to voucherize
the Medicare system."

Republicans have accused Obama of slashing more than $700 billion from
Medicare, even though the cuts actually come from insurers and
providers. Speaking in Florida, Ryan rejected charges he seeks to gut
Medicare, citing his family's personal experience.

Paul Ryan: "When I think of Medicare, it's not just a program, it's not
just a bunch of numbers, it's what my mom relies on, it's what my
grandma had. Medicare was there for our family, for my grandma when we
needed it then. And Medicare is there for my mom, when she needs it now.
And we have to keep that guarantee."

 

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