Published by AP on October 10, 2012
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Republican Congressman Charles Bass and Democratic rival Ann McLane Kuster said Wednesday night in a televised debate that they would do just the opposite of each other on Medicare.
The two 2nd Congressional District opponents squared off on WBIN-TV in a debate sponsored by AARP-New Hampshire. Not surprisingly, health care — particularly Medicare — dominated the discussion.
Kuster criticized Bass for voting for a budget that would end Medicare guarantees. Bass insisted he supports preserving Medicare, but he said changes must be made to prevent it from going bankrupt in 10 years.
Bass said it’s regrettable that President Barack Obama’s health care reform law cuts $700 billion from Medicare. Kuster fired back that Bass voted for budgets crafted by GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan that cut a similar amount from the program.
‘‘We need to make sure Medicare is there for all seniors,’’ she said.
Ryan, a conservative Wisconsin congressman and chairman of the House Budget Committee, calls his Medicare plan ‘‘premium support.’’ Future retirees would get a fixed amount to use for health insurance. Democrats call it a voucher plan.