Rocky Lara’s campaign released the following statement in response to Congressman Pearce’s latest misleading attack ad.
“Congressman Pearce’s latest attack ad is a desperate attempt to hide his long record of voting against southern New Mexico’s seniors while in Washington,” said Brian Lenzmeier, Campaign Manager for Rocky Lara for Congress. “The facts are clear: Congressman Pearce has repeatedly voted for a plan that would end Medicare as we know it, forcing southern New Mexico seniors to pay thousands of dollars more in out-of-pocket expenses—all to give more tax breaks to millionaires like himself. Rocky has pledged her commitment to protect Medicare for current and future beneficiaries, and will oppose any effort to turn Medicare into a voucher program.”
Background
Pearce voted for the FY2012 Paul Ryan Budget. In 2011, Pearce voted for the FY 2012 budget resolution proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan. The resolution passed, 235-193. [H Con Res 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11]
McClatchy-Tribune News Service: Republican Budget Would Effectively End Medicare. The Republican budget would end Medicare and nearly double out of pocket health care costs for seniors. According to the McClatchy-Tribune News Service, the House Republican budget “effectively would end Medicare for seniors.” [McClatchy-Tribune News Service, 4/05/11]
USA Today: Congressional Budget Office Estimated That Plan Would Cost Beneficiaries an Average of $6,400 Annually. In 2011, the USA Todayreported that the House Republican budget would cost beneficiaries an average of $6,400 more annually, based on estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. [USA Today, 10/03/11; Congressional Budget Office, 4/05/11]
CBPP: People With Incomes Over $1 Million Would Receive Average Tax Cuts of $125,00 a Year. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “people with incomes over $1 million would receive average tax cuts of $125,000 a year—or more than $1 million over the coming decade. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/20/11]
Ryan Budget Included Same Medicare Savings Included in the Affordable Care Act. According to Talking Points Memo, “The same cuts were included in House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) blueprint to partially privatize Medicare and remake the federal budget, which Republicans in both chambers voted to overwhelmingly for back in March. The same Medicare cuts were also included in Ryan’s budgets in 2012 and 2011, which similarly passed the Republican-led House and received overwhelming GOP in the Democratic-led Senate. [TPM, 12/4/13]