Press Releases

Wilson Opposes Extreme Republican Plan to "Cut, Cap, and End Medicare"

Bill Will Destroy 700,000 Jobs and End Medicare While Protecting Special Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

Wilson: “This is One of the Most Extreme Proposals I’ve Seen Since I’ve Been in Washington . . . It Would Essentially Make It Unconstitutional for Us to Care for our Seniors and Children.”

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-17) today voted against an extreme Republican plan to “cut, cap, and end Medicare.” The bill would destroy 700,000 jobs and end Medicare while protecting special tax breaks for the wealthy, special interests, Big Oil, and corporations that ship jobs overseas.

“This is one of the most extreme proposals I’ve seen since I’ve been in Washington,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “The Republican plan would end Medicare and essentially make it unconstitutional for us to care for our seniors and our children. Why should we enshrine in our Constitution plans to shred our social safety net? This is about more than dollars and sense – it comes down to fundamental values.”

According to Robert Greenstein, Executive Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the bill “stands out as one of the most ideologically extreme pieces of major budget legislation to come before Congress in years, if not decades.”

In addition, the GOP Constitutional Amendment would require deep and drastic cuts in both Medicare and Social Security by mandating a spending cap of 18% of GDP. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “[Under the GOP proposal,] reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” These deep cuts would essentially end these programs as we know them today.

Finally, as Rep. Norm Dicks, Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, has pointed out, “[This cap will] necessitate draconian cuts to programs that Americans depend on, including Pell Grants, Head Start, Food Safety, and WIC, as well as assistance to state and local governments for law enforcement, infrastructure improvements, housing, community development, public health, and other needs.”

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term congresswoman representing the 17^th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. She is a former state legislator and school principal and the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.