Altoona (WQOW) - The Medicare changes Congressman Paul Ryan has called for have been front and center lately on the campaign trail.
Earlier this week, former Democratic Congressman Dave Obey criticized the Ryan plan, saying it results in vouchers for seniors. Obey claimed the value of those vouchers would drop over time because they're not adjusted for inflation.
On Wednesday, WQOW News 18 caught up with a lawmaker who voted for Congressman Ryan's budget: Congressman Sean Duffy. He was asked what would happen if the value of the proposed subsidy for seniors (under Ryan's plan) doesn't keep up with the cost of inflation.
"Let's be clear about what's happening right now. If nothing's done, in 12 years, Medicare goes broke. So if you don't fix it, it's broke. So if you say, 'I don't like the premium system' you can stay in traditional Medicare. You have an option. You can stay in traditional Medicare or go to premium support which has different plans in a Medicare exchange that allows you to choose one that works for you. You have that option and that's the beauty of what this proposal is. We're giving our future seniors more choices. I think it's very important to make clear that if you're 55 or older, you get the traditional Medicare system. Premium support is for future generations of retirees," answered Duffy.
Congressman Duffy is running for re-election in the 7th district against Democrat Pat Kreitlow.
Kreitlow said this about congressmen Duffy and Ryan, "Choosing millionaires and Wall Street banks over Medicare recipients is wrong, especially when the plan they support would make the deficit worse, not better."
