*** You can listen to a recording of the call here http://www.fladems.com/page/m/2b1ce66/b71bdcf/3aaf385b/595a7a5f/1942187042/VEsE/ ***
WASHINGTON, July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Florida Democratic Party hosted a press call today to highlight how Jon Huntsman's support to end Medicare as we know it will adversely affect Floridians. Since declaring for office, Jon Huntsman has voiced his support for the Republican-passed budget that included a Medicare plan that would cut taxes for wealthy Americans by passing the burden onto middle class families and senior citizens. It would turn Medicare into a voucher program that would add more than $7,300 in out-of-pocket costs to Florida's senior citizens.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100929/DNCLOGO)
Bernadette Ohran of Gulfport and Patricia Kemp of Tampa both expressed their concern for Huntsman's plans to slash Medicare. Excerpts of the call are below:
Bernadette Ohran said:
"I'm really concerned, I've spent most of my adult life preparing for retirement and that included Medicare. Now that I'm getting closer to retirement, Republicans like Jon Huntsman want to rip the rug right out from under my feet. And most concerning to me, Governor Huntsman wants to slash Medicare and turn it into a voucher program. As someone who has asthma, that would be a disaster….I'm 52-years-old and I'm concerned about losing Medicare. I've spent my whole life paying into the program and I deserve the benefits. Honestly, I'm registered as no party affiliation, but I support a lot of the Democratic policies because issues like this affect all of us."
Patricia Kemp said:
"I find the voucher program very scary. I started working at 14 and I started paying into the Medicare system. I'm 54 now and it's certainly on my mind. My parents are in their 80s and I have friends who are on Medicare and I don't know where they would be without Medicare. From what I've read the cost of health insurance would go up $8,000 dollars and that is lot of money. The cost of health care is going to keep going up, but the vouchers won't. The voucher program would be a financial catastrophe for middle class people like me. Insurance companies will just get more of my money and I'd be left trying to figure out how I can afford the health insurance I need."
Paid for and authorized by the Florida Democratic Party, www.fladems.com
SOURCE Democratic National Committee