Jeb Bush Wants To ‘Figure Out A Way To Phase Out’ Medicare

FILE - In this March 19, 2015 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks to lawmakers on the Georgia House floor in Atlanta. It’s become even clearer thanks to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Immigration is the b... FILE - In this March 19, 2015 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks to lawmakers on the Georgia House floor in Atlanta. It’s become even clearer thanks to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Immigration is the banana peel of 2016 Republican presidential politics. Just ask Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. He stepped up as a Senate leader on immigration only to slip and fall in a tea party ruckus over the issue. In a moment of candor, he remembered the months of trying to get back up as “a real trial for me.” Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has a strong voice _ and a book _ on immigration but he’s done some shifting of his own. His statements in support of a path to legal status for people in the country illegally are loud and proud, but a departure from an earlier position that envisaged eventual citizenship. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The phase-out brigade is back! But now instead of George W. Bush wanting to phase out Social Security, it’s Jeb Bush wanting to phase out Medicare.

The former Florida governor opined Wednesday on the future of Medicare, a program he said “we need to figure out a way to phase out.”

As MSNBC reported, the GOP 2016er was speaking at an Americans for Prosperity event in New Hampshire, where he brought up a TV ad in which a Paul Ryan-look-a-like “was pushing an elderly person off the cliff in a wheelchair.” The ad was knocking Ryan’s Medicare-related budget proposals.

“I think we need to be vigilant about this and persuade people that our, when your volunteers go door to door, and they talk to people, people understand this. They know, and I think a lot of people recognize that we need to make sure we fulfill the commitment to people that have already received the benefits, that are receiving the benefits,” Bush said. “But that we need to figure out a way to phase out this program for others and move to a new system that allows them to have something – because they’re not going to have anything.”

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those over the age of 65. It also covers those below 65 who have permanent disabilities.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Another smooth move, JEB. Work longer, no meds. See if you can ditch Poppy’s guys at the malt shop next time…

  2. The former governor’s “opining” in this article gave me the impression that he is even less coherent that his brother.

  3. “But now instead of George W. Bush wanting to phase out Social Security, it’s Jeb Bush wanting to phase out Medicare.”

    If only we could phase out the Bush family….

  4. This one seems to be self-deporting. You have to wonder if he really wants it, what with the constant sabotaging of his own campaign.

  5. G*ddamn. Rethugs are STILL trying to convince their base that shafting their kids re: Medicare is a a good idea provided that the current gen gets theirs. After that, to hell with the kids and get off my lawn!!!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

148 more replies

Participants

Avatar for slbinva Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for pearlywhite Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for humpback Avatar for krusher Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for fourlegsgood Avatar for labman57 Avatar for cvilledem Avatar for mantan Avatar for sniffit Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for borisjimbo Avatar for taters Avatar for exspectator Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for azjude Avatar for darrtown Avatar for occamsrazor2 Avatar for emilianoelmexicano Avatar for beattycat Avatar for ljb860

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: