UPDATE: Haridopolos on Paul Ryan budget
by Dara Kam | June 1st, 2011Senate President Mike Haridopolos took a stand on U.S. House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s budget but stopped short of an outright endorsement after being kicked off a conservative talk show yesterday.
Haridopolos, running in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, got hammered by opponents in the blogosphere and on Twitter for refusing to give a straight-up “yes” or “no” on the Ryan budget.
Hounded by a conservative talk radio host to take a stand, Haridopolos this afternoon released a statement that applauded Ryan’s spending plan but said it “must be amended to provided (sic) greater protections for Seniors.”
The Ryan plan’s most controversial feature is a proposal to change Medicare for those now 54 and younger from a defined-benefit program to one that provides subsidies for future retirees to purchase private insurance.
Here’s Haridopolos statement:
I absolutely support the goals of the Ryan Plan to cut federal government deficit spending and applaud Rep. Ryan’s bold leadership in putting forth an intelligent and serious plan to tackle the largest issue confronting our nation. Rep. Ryan’s leadership in actually putting forth a plan to tackle the deficit is in stark contrast to the irresponsibility demonstrated by President Obama and the Democratic Senate who have failed to pass a budget for over 750 days, adding trillions to the debt during that time. While I support almost every provision of the Ryan Plan, I believe that it must be amended to provided greater protections for Seniors.
Fighting for Seniors is not new to me. One of the main reasons I fought ObamaCare, including passing Florida’s Health Care Freedom Act, is because of the devastating cuts it dealt to Seniors, cutting $500 billion from Medicare to fund ObamaCare-Welfare programs.
Again, I absolutely support the goals of the Ryan Plan and believe in almost all of the provisions to cut federal government deficit spending and address entitlements. As a candidate for the US Senate, I am the only person in this race with a proven record of reforming entitlements [Medicaid, Government Pensions, and Welfare] and a demonstrated commitment to making cuts to balance the budget in the state of Florida without increasing taxes or fees.
June 1st, 2011 at 2:20 pm
The right wing loonies ain’t gonna like that answer either. You gotta say, Yes, I will screw granny.
June 1st, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Oh no! Another Republican backing away from the Paul Ryan Save the Universe Plan.
June 1st, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Seniors must simply learn to live with less. Trust Paul Ryan to save the day.
June 1st, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Mike Haridopolos is done. Anybody but Haridopolos to beat Bill Nelson.
June 1st, 2011 at 6:39 pm
“One of the main reasons I fought ObamaCare, including passing Florida’s Health Care Freedom Act, is because of the devastating cuts it dealt to Seniors, cutting $500 billion from Medicare to fund ObamaCare-Welfare programs.”
What a lie. I guess it had nothing to do with the individual mandate right Mike? Please lets send this guy packing for the rest of his life from public service.
June 2nd, 2011 at 7:45 am
oink oink fascist piggy haridopolos
June 2nd, 2011 at 7:46 am
it’s Romneycare fascists, too dumb get it right as usual
June 2nd, 2011 at 8:26 am
Paul Ryan is emotionally unstable, certifiable
June 2nd, 2011 at 9:53 am
I am 54 years old. I would rather gfet sick and die earlier than get first-class health care and leave my country bankrupt and my children without the opportunity that every other American generatio has enjoyed.
Mikey, I don’t want your “protecting”.
We need to protect America from self-serving politicians who make promises that can’t be kept and bankrupt our children in the process.
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:49 am
After seeing how Mikey H. ran the last senate session I doubt he’s qualified to manage a Taco Bell.
June 3rd, 2011 at 9:00 am
Poor seniors are taxpayers. Politicians consume huge amounts of poor seniors tax dollars, they have been for tears. Can not politicians tolerate the poor seniors and allow them a little dignity in there last few years of paying tax.