Mikulski casts budget fight as women’s issue
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski led a group of female senators Tuesday in opposing a Republican budget plan approved by the House of Representatives, arguing that the measure’s proposed overhaul of Medicare would adversely affect women.
“We feel that we’re under attack,” the Maryland Democrat, who was joined by five other female -- and two male – Democratic senators, said during a Capitol Hill news conference. “We can look at every aspect of this bill and we can see that when it comes to the health of American women, [it] is the wrong prescription.”
The effort by Mikulski and other Democratic female lawmakers in Washington follows a similar push earlier this year against a GOP plan to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding. Though that debate largely turned on abortion, Mikulski cast the proposal as one that would deprive women of preventative health care. The provision was ultimately dropped from the spending bill Congress approved last month.
This time, the Democratic women of the Senate are battling a 2012 spending plan authored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, that would trim federal budget deficits by giving seniors a federal subsidy they would use to purchase private health insurance.
Democrats have pounced on the message that the proposal would “end Medicare as we know it,” and they have pointed to a study by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that shows the cost of health care would increase for seniors under the plan. Some Republicans, including Ryan, counter that Medicare as it exists is unsustainable and that changes must be made or the program will run out of money.
“We're being sensible, we're being rational, and we're saving this program,” Ryan said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press.
The GOP proposal has no chance of winning approval in the Democratic-controlled Senate this year. In fact, it is Senate Democrats who are trying to bring the Ryan budget to the floor as they try to use the Medicare fight as a wedge issue against Republicans and force them to vote on the idea in advance of the 2012 election.
But even as many Democrats acknowledge changes must be made to Medicare, the female senators said Monday that any cuts would have an especially significant impact on women, partly because women live longer on average and are more likely to rely on the program.
“This is really a sick proposal,” said California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.
Meanwhile, a group of women’s organizations, including the National Organization for Women, took aim at deficit talks that are being led by the White House. Vice President Joe Biden is leading a group of lawmakers who hope to find a bipartisan solution to the debt issue. The negotiators involved in that process are all men.
“Women are not prominently there at the meeting,” said Terry O’Neill, president of the organization. “The disproportionate impact on women is not at the center of the analysis and must be at the center of the analysis.”
Comments
What is your solution then Babs?
Whether you agree or disagree with Ryan's plan at least have the ovarian fortitude to put out your own solution instead of playing grade school politics!
The defecit will sink all of us and the defecit does not care if you are a Republican or Democrat.
Posted by: john | May 24, 2011 5:59 PM
The democrats have NO SOLUTION ... It is politics as usual criticize and conquer!
It is worthless waste of energy to try to even reason with this mentality for they have never in their lives been exposed to efficiently operating a viable business. They are clueless ! As it is apparently demonstrated when I am hung up on by their staffs when I mention the the US Dollar is in jeopardy oof losing its World Reserve currency status .... if that happens and it is in the making turmoil is inevitable.
Posted by: Mary Farrell | May 24, 2011 7:18 PM
"What is your solution then Babs?"
Shall we counter that with a question of:
"What is your solution then John?"
You are really good at criticizing, claiming that 'babs' doesn't present a solution. What solution have YOU presented?
None?
Oh, let me guess - you think ryan's plan is the only plan that will work? Just because it was proposed by a GOOPer?
Question, John?
What did you say when the GOOPers pushed through MediCare Part D, and told the actuary for Social Security to not tell anyone the truth about the cost if he wanted to keep his job? And did you complain when they held the vote in the middle of the night, and held it open for several hours until they strong-armed several GOOPers into switching their votes?
Remember, John, that as the majority party in the House, just saying "NO!" or even "Hell NO!" is no longer an option for the GOOPers. Put the big boy pants on, John. The GOOPers need to recognize that as the leaders in the House, they need to cooperate with the Senate AND the White House.
And your mate - Mary Farrell? Even worse than you.
Posted by: Mike | May 25, 2011 1:31 AM
But for many hardworking families, affordable insurance can be hard to find. The new "Penny Health Insurance" is giving you more control over your family’s health care by expanding your options for health insurance and making them more affordable.
Posted by: jackpratt1 | May 25, 2011 2:59 AM
Wow Mike... You really don't get it do you? All you did was prove Mary correct. You almost make me feel sorry for democrats.
Posted by: DCRocks | May 25, 2011 7:54 AM
Republicans long for the 1950s when white men were kings, women were subservient, blacks were invisible, and hispanics were still south of the border. Republicans know that the quickest way to keep women poor and oppressed is to control their reproductive decisions. An unscheduled pregnancy that cannot be terminated ensures both the woman and child live a life of proverty. In addition Republicans continually attack the public education system because the majority of teachers are women and this profession allows them to be independent and strong. .Attacking their pay and benefits will make them indentured servants to their male masters. Republicans then ally themselves with the male religious Prophets for Profit to further enslave and marginalize women rights. Religion is only a male crearted organization to oppress women rights. Women need to recognize that the Republican strategy to shackle them once again into subservience. Women need to protect themselves and their daughters ... a vote for Republicans is a vote for enslavement.
Posted by: afmcalax | May 25, 2011 8:42 AM
Conservatives / Teabaggers / Pro-Fetus lunatics alike attack organizations like Planned Parenthood because they need soldiers for the seemingly unending cycles of conflict that they will probably have the nation involved with if they gain the ability to do so.
Posted by: Paul_D | May 25, 2011 9:55 AM
Toss all idealogy to the side Mike..
Raise Social Security to 69
cut Medicare and Medicaid by 3 percent
rein in the costs
cut spending including defense and let the Bush tax cuts expire..
The Bush tax cuts should be applied to defecit reduction-no new programs.
Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Reduce military presence throughout the world.
These are my solutions Mike.
If this discussion is idealogy based on the right or left then nothing will be fixed.
We need statesmen to bury the rhethoric and fix this mess now.
Oh, and I am a Democrat who loathes both MSNBC and Fox News.
I will not watch propaganda presented as news.
Try to be a little more openn minded Mike just because someone disagrees with you doesn't make them a right winger.
Posted by: john | May 25, 2011 10:53 AM
Oh, so the deficit will sink us John? Who created the deficit? There was no deficit under Clinton. There was a huge one when Bush the Younger left office. A deficit created by Wall Street greed, tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, and 3 wars. Those are the FACTS John. The deficit can be easily reduced through increased revenue. But if the GOP wants to argue that Medicare needs to be abolished, go right ahead. We saw in NY 26 how that will work out for you.
Posted by: RomanTotale3d | May 25, 2011 12:03 PM
Listen RomanTotale3d what good is finger pointing at this point?
I suggested cuts, end the wars and and repeal the Bush tax cuts with the money going directly to defecit reduction.
And I am a Democrat.
Tell me are you that blinded by your liberalism?
Posted by: john | May 25, 2011 2:04 PM
What is Babs solution? Seriously. We know Medicare is one of the primary drivers of the deficit. Of course any reduction to Medicare will hurt women, but that's a really shallow and selfish thing for Babs to say given it will also hurt men and children. But that's not the point. The point is that we've established several entitlements that have seemingly endless growth while our economic output does not match the pace. In other words, we're making promises we simply can't keep. It's patently unfair for Babs Mikulski to say 'don't cut Medicare' because she knows the problem is really one facing the future generation given her age. Maybe Ryan's proposal isn't the answer, but we must do something. Complaining in the most shameful partisan tones is no longer a viable solution. Show some leadership and less partisanship Babs. Even Obama seems to be trying to find compromise spots.
Posted by: Brad | May 26, 2011 9:27 AM
A few people to address:
Mike: Is John really so ridiculous to ask a U.S. Senator what her plan is? I highly doubt John is a member of the legislative body, but even he could put together a modest plan for serious reform. Also, Ryan isn't the only member of the GOP who put forward a budget plan; Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania also put forward a budget plan that would lead to a balanced budget and serious debt reduction in about a decade without the Ryan Medicare change. One final point in regards to your post, the House does need to work with the Senate and White House, but it is difficult when everything gets turned into a political issue. Plus the Democrats in the Senate don't want to put together a budget this year either because it would be politically dangerous. At least the White House and the HoR were responsible enough to come up with plans.
afmcalax: Let me guess, you also think that George Bush was flying those planes on 9/11? Your theory that the GOP tries to "keep women down" is absolutely ridiculous. What about all of the women who are members of the GOP? I guess they are all just useful idiots’ right?
Paul_D: I am not even sure what you mean here. Many of the more conservative members of Congress did come after Planned Parenthood, but I wouldn't call them "soldiers" and I do not foresee "seemingly unending cycles of conflict'. Enlighten me?
RomanTotale3d: Clinton (questionably) "balanced" one budget, and all of the sudden there was no deficit? No, there were deficits under Clinton and the budgets were manipulated, much like the healthcare law, to show future budgets coming in the black. With how much Obama has increased the deficit, he could make his last budget show up as being a surplus for the next year if he manipulated the numbers. Also, stop listening to MSNBC, the GOP plan doesn't abolish Medicare, but you are right that it is a good lie to win elections off of.
Posted by: From Harford | May 26, 2011 2:15 PM
if a neighbor you hate comes over with a hose telling you your house is on fire. Do you cuss him out? Make fun of him for trying to help? Come people, the country is not just broke, it's so far in debt that it is hurting ALL of us, now, TODAY!!! First - stop the bleeding. THEN, get the debt down. This is something most of us have to do in our own lives. A budget... If I can't afford it I don't buy it. I support charities I believe in, and avoid the ones I don'[t. Sally Struthers hawking for starving children?? Common now, who would fight her for that last twinkie?
So where should we cut? How about cops & fireman. Now there's a waste of money.My home isn't on fire and nobody is breaking in. Let's bring the soldiers home so that instead of fighting the bad guys in THEIR back yard they can do it in yours. Because for certain, like it or not, we ARE at war and the list of countries with Nukes pointed at us is getting longer. .
Look up "appeasement and Neville Chamberlain"
.
No, we can't "just get along" - never have, never will. So we need soldiers, cops, firemen. God bless all of them.
Posted by: jmac | June 1, 2011 4:06 PM