Cornyn: Democrats Choose Political Games Over Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries

Statement

Cornyn: Democrats Choose Political Games Over Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, on Friday said Democrats put political interests ahead of Medicare beneficiaries by allowing a deadline to prevent payment cuts to expire. Sen. Cornyn made the following statement:

"It is regrettable that this vital payment update has fallen prey to election year grandstanding. This hardship on patients and doctors could have been easily prevented if the Majority Leader had not objected to a 30-day extension of current law while negotiations continue.

"The Democrats knew these cuts could have been prevented through an extension or a bipartisan bill. Yet they insisted on a partisan proposal by Sen. Baucus that would produce a certain veto and indefinite delay as the process started over.

'There is no good reason for Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians to endure this uncertainty, hardship and inconvenience. But that is apparently what the majority party wanted, for their own political ambitions. To avoid a negative impact on beneficiaries and doctors, I am supporting an effort to work with the White House to prevent these cuts from going into effect administratively while bipartisan negotiations continue.

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