Obama and GOP bicker over doctors' Medicare pay, new stimulus

[babylonsister]

It's touching that NOW McConnell is 'concerned' about the deficit. Balls to the walls when he wanted funds for war, but Americans? Not so much. :grr:

Obama and GOP bicker over doctors' Medicare pay

By CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is asking Republican lawmakers to approve billions of dollars in new spending to avert a scheduled 21 percent cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

If GOP senators don't allow the stalled proposal to pass, some doctors will stop treating Medicare recipients, Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday.

Obama also urged congressional leaders Saturday to approve his proposals to pump more federal money into states where thousands of teachers, firefighters and other public officials face likely layoffs. In a letter, Obama described his plans as "critical and timely ways to further the economic recovery and spur job creation."

Many GOP lawmakers, and some Democrats, have balked at further stimulus spending, fearing the deficit is getting out of hand.

The Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said his party wants to avoid reducing physicians' Medicare fees, but do it without adding to the deficit - meaning spending cuts elsewhere.

The president noted that since 2003, Congresses led by Democrats and by Republicans alike have blocked similar proposed cuts in doctors' reimbursement rates. But now, he said, Republicans are "willing to walk away from the needs of our doctors and our seniors."

The "doc fix" is part of a large, Democratic-drafted bill that would extend several popular tax breaks while greatly increasing the tax that oil companies pay into a spill liability fund. Republican senators have focused their objections on the bill's tax increases, not the doctors' pay matter.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_MEDICARE?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[tmyers09]

1. But I thought Repukes were just soooo concerned with cuts to Medicare

during the health reform debate? :P

[babylonsister]

2. Not really, I guess. It's still all about obstructing whatever the

Dems want, regardless of who is hurt.

[Cha]

3. The repukes didn't give a shite about the deficit when bush-

cheney was racking it up after they were left a surplus from Clinton.

The party of lying hypocrites need to get their stories straight.