Jeb Bush calls for Medicare phase out.
Democrats wasted little time Thursday seizing on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s proposal to phase out Medicare.
At an Americans for Prosperity Forum a day earlier, Bush became the latest Republican to make the case for entitlement reform, saying that while he doesn’t want to disrupt benefits for those currently covered or poised to draw Medicare, the program is not on solid financial footing.
“We need to figure out a way to phase out this program for others and move to a new system that allows them to have something—because they’re not going to have anything,” Bush said.
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the Democratic chairman in early primary state New Hampshire were among those who quickly fired back at Bush, who hinted that needed was something akin to U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposal for a health premium support plan, rather than traditional fee-for-service coverage.
“This is just the latest chapter in a long book on Republicans trying to destroy Medicare,” said Ray Buckley, the New Hampshire Democratic chief, in a Thursday afternoon conference call.
Lenore Patton, a senior from Hampton, N.H., also blistered Bush.
“It’s clear that Jeb Bush doesn’t get it,” she said. “Throughout his career, Jeb Bush has always fought for the wealthiest…this is no different.”
