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Hoyer Statement on Passage of the House Republican Budget for Fiscal Year 2014

March 21, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) released the following statement after House Republicans passed their budget for Fiscal Year 2014:

“I strongly believe that both parties must work together to enact a budget that will put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path while encouraging job creation and economic growth. Unfortunately, the budget passed by House Republicans today for Fiscal Year 2014 is not balanced and would place the burden of deficit reduction on the backs of Maryland seniors, middle-class families, and the most vulnerable among us.

“For the third year in a row, the House Republican budget ends the Medicare guarantee by turning it into a voucher program, shifting health care costs onto seniors in Maryland and throughout the country. Their budget repeals the benefits Marylanders are experiencing through the Affordable Care Act; cuts low-income programs that assist the vulnerable; slashes investments that strengthen our economy and the middle class; and could result in middle-class families seeing an average tax increase of $3,000 per family. It also fails to replace the irrational, across-the-board spending cuts imposed by sequestration with a balanced alternative, which could harm our local economy and national security.

“This budget is not the way to solve our fiscal challenges, and I continue to urge my colleagues to work toward balanced and bipartisan solutions to restore fiscal responsibility and grow our economy.”

By ending the Medicare guarantee and repealing the Affordable Care Act, the House Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2014 would raise health care costs on seniors. In Maryland alone:

  • The budget could mean that future Medicare beneficiaries would have to pay as much as $5,900 more out of pocket for their health care.
  • 48,949 seniors would pay more for prescription drugs next year.
  • 580,963 seniors would be forced to pay for preventive health services, such as cancer screenings and wellness visits.
  • Seniors would also see a $9.08 billion cut to Medicaid, jeopardizing long-term care and nursing home services for over 191,900 seniors and disabled individuals in Maryland.

Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, thousands of Marylanders with Medicare have benefitted from lower health care costs:

  • More affordable prescription drugs: Marylanders with Medicare have saved over $84.1 million on prescription drugs since the law’s enactment. Last year, 48,949 Marylanders saved over $37.5 million, an average of $768 per person.
  • Free preventive services: Last year, 543,632 Marylanders with traditional Medicare benefited from one or more free preventive services.