WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today voted for an amendment to strip the Senate Democrats’ health care bill of Medicare cuts totaling nearly $500 billion. 

The amendment, offered by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was defeated by a vote of 42 to 58.    

“The defeat of this amendment means the Senate Democrats’ bill still slashes nearly a half a trillion dollars from Medicare,” Wicker said.  “The consequences of this ill-conceived proposal are clear: Massive cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and home health agencies will hurt 45 million seniors nationwide, including more than 476,000 in Mississippi.”

“The popular Medicare Advantage program would take the worst hit, jeopardizing benefits like eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental coverage for 11 million seniors.  This is not the kind of reform Americans deserve.” 

In addition to the Medicare cuts, Wicker said the Democrats’ bill would increase taxes on workers and small businesses, drastically increase government spending, and raise insurance premiums.  The senator highlighted independent analyses from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Joint Taxation Committee that have pointed out these flaws. 

Wicker has said a step-by-step approach is needed to provide Americans with health care that is more affordable and accessible.  Those steps include expanding competition by allowing patients to cross state lines to buy insurance, allowing small businesses to pool together to provide health coverage for their workers, and implementing medical liability reform. 

Today marked the beginning of votes on amendments to the Democrats’ 2,074-page, $2.5 trillion bill, a process that is expected to take weeks. 

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