Issues: Medicare

60 Plus Association: “Why Did We Fire Dan Maffei In 2010?”

adcheck •

The 60 Plus Association reminds voters of Dan Maffei’s support for the Recovery Act and health care reform prior to his defeat in the 2010 election. They also present those policies in a deeply misleading light, when the facts show the Recovery Act worked and the Affordable Care Act will save us money. As a kicker, 60 Plus attacks Maffei over Medicare spending reductions that his opponent, Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R), voted for twice when they were included in GOP budgets.

Read more after the jump.

Arizonans for Jobs: “Richard Carmona: Obama’s Rubber Stamp”

adcheck •

Arizonans for Jobs, a group supporting Rep. Jeff Flake’s (R) bid for the Senate, attacks Democratic candidate Richard Carmona for supporting the Affordable Care Act. Despite the group’s claims, the health care law is not a “government takeover,” does not raise taxes on most Americans, and does not cut benefits for Medicare recipients. In fact, Flake voted to preserve the Affordable Care Act’s savings from Medicare when he supported the House Republican budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan.

Read more after the jump.

Crossroads GPS: “Lovers”

adcheck •

Crossroads GPS says Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine “loves taxes,” accusing him of trying to raise taxes on lower-income Americans and attacking him for supporting the Affordable Care Act even though the health care law provides more middle-class tax relief than burden. But the “tax hikes” GPS accuses Kaine of pushing as governor were a 1 percent surcharge that was part of a package of tough cuts seeking to balance Virginia’s recession-ravaged budget. Meanwhile, Kaine isn’t “considering a new tax on those who can least afford it” – he misspoke while indicating his openness to all discussions on taxation, but does not support taxing lower-income citizens.

Read more after the jump.

Crossroads GPS: “Hole”

adcheck •

Crossroads GPS blames President Obama and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) for the rising debt, citing the Recovery Act and Obamacare as examples of measures that allegedly “dug the hole.” However, the recovery bill helped rescue the economy from a deeper recession, while the Affordable Care Act actually reduces deficits. In reality, the deficit skyrocketed thanks to Bush policies – especially tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans – and the crushing recession Obama inherited. Crossroads also criticizes Tester for supporting “Obama’s budget deal” that included defense cuts, but the ad does not mention that congressional Republicans played a major role in forcing those cuts into law.

Read more after the jump.

American Action Network: “3 Wishes”

adcheck •

In an ad urging voters to “make Kathy Hochul go away” on November 6, the American Action Network attacks the first-term Democrat from New York, claiming she voted to raise taxes “almost 50 percent” and increase spending “even more.” But the ad’s citations make clear that it’s referring to Hochul’s time on the Hamburg, New York town board, and the increases in question occurred over the course of 13 years. In fact, when the town budget is adjusted for inflation, spending actually increased a mere 8.5 percent during Hochul’s service. The ad also claims Hochul “voted for the job-killing health care law” and to increase small business taxes. But Hochul wasn’t in Congress when the health care law passed, and she voted to preserve tax cuts on the middle class while ending them for top earners, few of whom are true small businesses.

Read more after the jump.

Americans for Tax Reform: “Tax Raising Politician Sean Maloney (NY-18)”

adcheck •

Americans for Tax Reform targets New York congressional candidate Sean Maloney’s (D) support for ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, which the group claims will hurt small businesses and kill jobs. However, conservatives rely on a dubious definition of “small business,” and allowing the top tax bracket to return to its pre-Bush level would not affect many actual employers. In addition, ATR’s charge that phasing out the tax breaks would cause job losses is based on a flawed study that assumes the revenue will not go toward deficit reduction, which is exactly what Maloney and other Democrats have proposed.

Read more after the jump.

Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for Georgia”

adcheck •

Americans for Tax Reform attacks Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) over the Affordable Care Act, distorting the law’s impact and Barrow’s positions. The truth is that Barrow voted against the ACA when it passed in 2010, but he has also opposed GOP repeal efforts, citing the need to preserve several of the law’s most important and popular provisions. Indeed, repeal would have negative consequences for millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions and young adults who are covered by their parents’ plans. Furthermore, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits.

Read more after the jump.

Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for Colorado”

adcheck •

Americans for Tax Reform attacks congressional candidate Sal Pace (D-CO) for supporting the Affordable Care Act, relying on a series of distortions about the law’s impact. In reality, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it actually reduces the burden on many middle-class families. Moreover, the law reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits – in fact, Pace’s opponent, Rep. Scott Tipton (R), voted to preserve the “cuts” as part of the House GOP budget – and the Senate-confirmed board responsible for finding additional savings is forbidden from cutting benefits or rationing care.

Read more after the jump.

Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for Pennsylvania”

adcheck •

Americans for Tax Reform attacks Rep. Mark Critz (D-PA) for opposing repeal of the Affordable Care Act, relying on a series of distortions about the law’s impact. In reality, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it actually lessens the burden on many middle-class families. Moreover, the law reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits, and the Senate-confirmed board responsible for finding additional savings is forbidden from cutting benefits or rationing care. Repealing the health care law would have negative consequences for millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions or young adults who are covered by their parents’ insurance plans.

Read more after the jump.

Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for California”

adcheck •

Americans for Tax Reform attacks congressional candidate Scott Peters (D-CA) for supporting the Affordable Care Act, relying on a series of distortions about the law’s impact. In reality, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it actually reduces the burden on many middle-class families. Moreover, the law reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits – in fact, Peters’ opponent, Rep. Brian Bilbray (R), voted to preserve the “cuts” as part of the House GOP budget – and the Senate-confirmed board responsible for finding additional savings is forbidden from cutting benefits or rationing care.

Read more after the jump.