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WATCH: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, FDP Chair Nikki Fried, Florida Seniors Slam Rick Scott’s Plan to End Medicare
Press Conference Held on the 59th Anniversary of Medicare Being Signed Into Law
Today, on the 59th anniversary of Medicare being signed into law, Florida leaders and senior advocates called out Rick Scott’s signature plan to end Medicare and Social Security as we know them.
Speakers also slammed Scott’s recent proposal to slash “half” the federal budget, which would mean drastic cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Scott’s Plan to Rescue America would put Medicare on the chopping block — jeopardizing the health care of more than 5 million Floridians – it’s so toxic that even Mitch McConnell calls it a “bad idea.”
Click here to download video of the press conference. See key excerpts below:
“Fifty-nine years ago today, this critical lifeline for our parents and grandparents was signed into law. It’s a security blanket for our seniors. I’m so grateful we can still celebrate this landmark improvement in our lives. But you know who will never get an invite to this party? Senator Rick Scott. Two years ago, Rick Scott authored the authoritative plan to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
“Another six years with Rick Scott in the Senate would be absolutely devastating for Floridians struggling to afford health care — especially our seniors. Florida has the largest proportion of seniors of any state in the country, yet Rick Scott wants to rip away seniors’ health care and throw their lives into chaos,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.
“Before Medicare was enacted, 56 percent of American seniors had no health insurance…. More than one in four seniors went without medical care altogether…This fall, Florida’s voters have a chance to send a message to Rick Scott: We are not going back to those days. Out of all 100 Senators, Rick Scott has perhaps the most egregious record when it comes to Medicare,” said Max Richtman, President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
“Medicare ensures that seniors like me can get the health care they need without fearing they’ll go bankrupt. It’s unconscionable to think that a politician who represents the state with the largest senior population would want to take that away. It’s baffling that Rick Scott has continuously attacked a program so important to the livelihoods of the very people he was elected to represent,” said Rose LaChapelle, Sarasota County Democratic Senior Caucus President.
“We will be going to the voting booth and taking others with us because it is our duty as leaders and advocates for retirees to go forth — from now until November 5th — to educate, motivate, activate, and agitate so we can eliminate people like Rick Scott from elected office. He would eliminate our very livelihoods through gutting Social Security and Medicare,” said senior advocate and Medicare recipient Barbara DeVane.