Seniors

"I voted against the 2012 Republican budget, because it does not reflect my values or the priorities of our great country. I for one did not come to Washington to destroy Medicare, an effective, affordable, and popular program that provides the peace of mind of quality health coverage to 47 million seniors and persons with disabilities....

"I cannot in good faith support this Continuing Resolution, because it makes unnecessary job-destroying deep cuts to roads and public transit, clean energy, flood prevention, and schools."

“Constraining preventative health care is a boon to emergency room vending machine stockers and flower merchants but a tragedy for every American who values public health, productivity, and deficit reduction,” said Congressman Garamendi. “Preventative medicine is cost-effective medicine and saves lives.”

“The House Republican proposal to destroy Medicare is a feeding frenzy for the insurance industry sharks, and every American that has ever hoped to retire with dignity is what’s for dinner. The hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare Americans previously set aside in preparation for our golden years is now being set aside for insurance industry profits."

"If you are in the market for health insurance today, because of the Patient’s Bill of Rights, you are now protected by the strongest consumer protections in American history – protections now law because Congressional Democrats fought for you," said Congressman Garamendi, a key health care advisor to President Bill Clinton. "At a time when we should be focused on creating the jobs millions of Americans desperately need, today House Republicans voted to take away consumer protections from you, putting the insurance industry back in charge of your health care."

"Consumers gained a lot of protections in the Patient's Bill of Rights, and they have a lot to lose if House Republicans succeed in repealing health care reform. People in our communities – nearly 500,000 small business owners, seniors, working families, and young adults – would see vital and popular protections taken away," Congressman Garamendi said.

"Today I fought to save the Patients’ Bill of Rights and protect patients and consumers from the greed of insurance companies. Unfortunately, the House Republican majority voted to set up a vote next week that will force seniors to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for prescription drugs, to allow insurance companies to kick you off your insurance when you get sick, and to deprive you of needed preventative screenings recommended by your doctor," said Congressman Garamendi, a former health care advisor to President Bill Clinton.

"As we climb out of a deep recession, the insurance companies are kicking us back down. Fortunately, for rate increases over 10%, the 2010 health care reform allows the Federal government to review, question, and disclose facts to the public about the increase."