Sen. Fischer voted to gut Medicare by $500 billion over the next ten years and to end the program as we know it by turning Medicare into a voucher program. This is another classic example of how Sen. Fischer votes with her party bosses even when it hurts Nebraskans.
Sen. Fischer also supported the privatization of Social Security, raising the retirement age, and imposing an age tax on older Nebraskans allowing insurance companies to charge them fives times more for their health insurance than younger people.
Senator Fischer cannot be trusted to stand up to her party bosses and special interests when Nebraska’s seniors hang in the balance.
Sen. Deb Fischer’s Record On Medicare & Retirement Security
Fischer Voted For Budget That Would Cut Medicare By Nearly $500 Billion. “The Senate plan would cut Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) subsidies for health insurance, and related health programs by $1.8 trillion; the Trump and House plans would cut these programs by $1.9 trillion and $2.0 trillion, respectively. The House and Trump plans explicitly endorse the ACA repeal legislation that the House passed in May, which CBO estimates would cause more than 20 million people to lose health coverage and raise premiums, weaken coverage, or both for millions of others. The House and Trump plans also propose additional Medicaid cuts on top of those in the House-passed repeal bill.” [H.Con.Res. 71, Vote #245, 10/19/17; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 10/17/17]
Fischer Voted Against An Amendment To FY18 Budget To Restore $473 Billion In Medicare Cuts. “Senator Nelson, D-FL, offered an amendment to the FY 2018 Budget to restore the $473 billion in Medicare cuts. The measure would be paid for by closing special interest tax loopholes. The amendment failed 47-51. A YES vote is a pro-retiree vote. H.Con.Res. 71, Roll Call No. 222, October 18, 2017.” [Alliance for Retired Americans, Nebraska Congressional Voting Record 115th Congress, 1st Session, accessed 8/26/18; S.Amdt. 1150 to S.Amdt. 1116 to H.Con.Res. 71, Vote 222, 10/18/17]
Fischer Voted Against An Amendment To Tax Bill That Created Point Of Order Against Legislation That Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Benefits. “Senator Sanders, I-VT, offered an amendment to the tax bill that creates a point of order against legislation that cuts Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The amendment failed 46-54. A YES vote is a pro-retiree vote. H.R. 1, Roll Call No. 294, December 1, 2017.” [Alliance for Retired Americans, Nebraska Congressional Voting Record 115th Congress, 1st Session, accessed 8/26/18; S.Amdt. 1720 to S.Amdt. 1618 to H.R. 1, Vote 294, 12/1/17]
Fischer Voted Against Preventing Medicare From Being Privatized Or Turned Into A Voucher Program. In March 2015, Fischer voted against a: “Stabenow, D-Mich., motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Enzi, R-Wyo., point of order against the Bennet, D-Colo., amendment no. 601 for not being germane. The Bennet amendment would create a 60-vote point of order against any legislation that would privatize Medicare, reduce guaranteed benefits, increase out of pocket expenses or turn the program into a premium-supported plan.” The motion was rejected 46-53. [CQ, 3/25/15; S.Amdt. 601 to S.Con.Res. 11, Vote 90, 3/25/15]
Fischer Voted Against Protecting Social Security From Benefit Cuts Or Privatization. In March 2015, Fischer voted against a: “Wyden, D-Ore., motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Enzi, R-Wyo., point of order against the Wyden amendment no. 471 for not being germane. The Wyden amendment would create a 60-vote point of order against any legislation that would reduce Social Security benefits, increase the retirement age for benefits or privatize Social Security.” The motion was rejected 51-48. [CQ, 3/24/15, S.Amdt. 471 to S.Con.Res. 11, Vote 84, 3/24/15]
Fischer on Medicare/Social Security: “Anything’s On the Table.” In August 2011, the York News-Times reported “Fischer also touched on social security and Medicare, saying the system isn’t sustainable as it is. Will it take raising the age of eligibility or lowering the benefit cap? ‘It has to be discussed. Anything’s on the table if it is a reasonable proposal. But all these things have to be debated. That’s the problem right now, nothing is being debated. If we truly want to work through these issues, that needs to happen. And I’m frustrated watching all this non-debate and all we hear are sound bites and scare tactics. I think that representatives should want to be in public service to find solutions to these problems.’” [York News-Times, 8/17/2011]
Fischer Voted For Motion To Proceed To AHCA In July 2017, Fischer voted for: “McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would make extensive changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and employer mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current system and by making extensive changes to Medicaid.” The motion was agreed to by a vote of 50-50, with Vice President Pence breaking the tie. [CQ, 7/25/17; HR 1628, Vote #167, 7/25/17]
- Older Americans Slapped With ‘Age Tax’ In GOP Health-Care Bill: AARP. “Older Americans are being unfairly targeted in the Republicans’ health-care bill, AARP told CNBC on Monday. Under the new legislation, insurers would be allowed to charge older adults up to five times more than younger people. Under Obamacare, rates were capped at three times more.” [CNBC, 6/26/17]