Democratic Sen. Mark Udall conceded during a debate with Republican Rep. Cory Gardner that he voted to cut $800 billion from Medicare Advantage, but emphasized that he did so to strengthen the underlying Medicare program.
Udall was responding to Gardner, who is challenging the Colorado Democrat on the Nov. 4 ballot. The Republican charged Udall with cutting $700 billion from Medicare through his support of the Affordable Care Act, which mandated cuts to help finance President Obama’s healthcare overhaul.
Medicare Advantage, a supplemental insurance program under Medicare that was popular with many seniors, took a hit as a part of the Obamacare reforms. However, Democrats and some independent analysts have argued that the cuts improved Medicare’s long-term solvency.
Still, in Colorado’s razor thin Senate race, Udall might want that particular quote back. Here is a transcript of the exchange:
Moderator: [Congressman Gardner], would you vote for the Paul Ryan plan to overhaul Medicare again if you were in the Senate?
Gardner: I would vote for a bill that allows us to balance the budget, that protects Medicare, and that’s what I did, Senator Udall, was voted for a bill that protects Medicare, that protects current retirees and their social safety nets, and we will fight hard to protect them. Your plan is bankruptcy for those social safety net programs because you haven’t come up with a solution, but you have cut Medicare by $700 billion when you voted for the Affordable Care Act. Now, I want to talk about something else, too —
Moderator: We need to wrap up.
Gardner: We’ve got closing, too? I’ll wait then.
Udall: I’d like to weigh in very quickly.
Moderator: All right, 15 seconds.
Udall: So Congressman Gardner voted for $800 billion in cuts to Medicare that went to tax cuts. I voted for $800 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage that went to shoring up Medicare, extending the solvency. Again, there’s a contrast. How do we move Colorado forward? Congressman Gardner is going to take us backwards.
