Ryan Budget is more corporate welfare

Ryan Budget is just more corporate welfare

On March 29, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. introduced his budget to the House of Representatives — a budget that would be devastating to anyone using Medicare and Medicaid if it became law.

     Ryan’s budget would turn much of Medicare over to the big insurance companies giving seniors inadequate vouchers to buy health coverage in a costly, unfair private insurance market. The budget would greatly weaken coverage from the Medicare program, as younger healthier retirees leave the program.

     This budget would turn Medicaid over to states, which in many cases are facing tight budgets or worse. Medicaid is the only way that 70 percent of seniors can afford long term or nursing home care. At first glance, perhaps, Ryan’s budget may look like a way to reduce the deficit, but in the end it is just more corporate welfare.

     It is beyond reason that any elected representative would want to take from those with very little and give it to those who have so much. The Senate has the opportunity to make the right decision when they discuss this budget. Let’s hope they have the compassion, courage and convictions to do the right thing — vote it down and protect Medicare for seniors today, as well as for future generations.

— Ken Sagar, president, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Des Moines