PolitiFact.com
Statements about Medicare
Tennessee Democratic Party

Tennessee Democratic Party

False

Speculation at best

The "Health Care Compact bill would end Medicare's guaranteed benefit for Tennessee's Medicare recipients and shift management of the federal health care plan to the state's TennCare program."

James Clyburn

James Clyburn

False

Final bills got significant GOP support

When Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were created, "Republicans stood on the sidelines"

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

True

Ryan acknowledged as much in June

Says U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan attacked the president for "the same amount of Medicare savings that (Ryan) had in his own budget."

Kathleen Sebelius

Kathleen Sebelius

Half-True

She recycles claim about old plan

"Republicans would give seniors a (Medicare) voucher that limits what's covered, costing seniors as much as $6,400 more a year."

Tammy Baldwin

Tammy Baldwin

True

Thompson pushed for law, which includes bargaining ban

Federal law adopted "under Tommy Thompson's watch" prohibits the government from negotiating for "better prices" on prescription drugs for senior citizens

Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan

Mostly False

Misleading on Medicare

President Obama "funneled" $716 billion out of Medicare "at the expense of the elderly."

Michael Riley

Michael Riley

Half-True

Savings not really a cut?

"President Obama is attacking Paul Ryan on Medicare even though it is his administration with the help of Jim Langevin who cut $716 billion from Medicare."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

True

In a speech and an ad

"In 2008, candidate Barack Obama attacked John McCain for proposing cuts to Medicare."

Tommy Thompson

Tommy Thompson

Mostly True

Her past votes went farther

Says U.S. Senate rival Tammy Baldwin wants a "completely government-controlled" health care system that goes "far beyond 'Obamacare'" and is "a Medicare system for all."

Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan

Half-True

Repealing 'Obamacare' takes away benefits

The Romney-Ryan plan for Medicare "does not affect" benefits for anyone 55 or older.

Jim Renacci

Jim Renacci

Mostly False

No gutting. Law promotes savings

Says Betty Sutton and House Democrats "gutted" Medicare by $741 billion to pay for Obamacare.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Half-True

UPDATE: Reconsidering the differences

Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan "could raise future retirees’ costs more than $6,000."

Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan

Mostly False

A softer take on an old charge

Says Obama puts "15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in charge of Medicare, who are required to cut Medicare ... that will lead to denied care for current seniors."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Mostly False

Changes but does not end Medicare

"In Florida, they're already talking about how the Ryan-Romney plan will end Medicare and replace it with a voucher."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Half-True

Needs more explanation

"Under the president's plan, he cuts Medicare by $716 billion, takes that money out of the Medicare trust fund and uses it to pay for Obamacare."

National Republican Congressional Committee

National Republican Congressional Committee

Pants on Fire!

An old line of attack

Says Reps. Rush Holt, Frank Pallone and Bill Pascrell are "willing to jeopardize seniors’ access to coverage by gutting $741 billion from Medicare" to pay for a "big-government healthcare takeover."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Mostly True

A lesson in Washington linguistics

Says Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan "want to turn Medicare into a voucher system."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Mostly False

Not "robbed"

Says Barack Obama "robbed Medicare (of) $716 billion to pay for ... Obamacare."

Stephanie Cutter

Stephanie Cutter

True

Both sides trying to reduce future spending

Says Paul Ryan's budget relies on the same $700 billion in savings from Medicare that Mitt Romney and other Republicans have been attacking Democrats about.

David Cicilline

David Cicilline

False

Where’s the proof?

"(Brendan) Doherty wants to raise the eligibility age for Social Security benefits for anyone born after 1960, with no regard for the challenges it would cause for people working in physically demanding occupations."

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