Posted on 03/25/2011 10:46:32 AM PDT by BradtotheBone
Newly empowered House Republicans are getting ready to renew their attacks against AARP over its support for the healthcare reform law, The Hill has learned.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) plans to haul the seniors lobby's executives before the panel for a hearing on how the group stands to benefit from the law. Republicans say AARP supported the law's $200 billion in cuts to the Medicare Advantage program because it stands to gain financially as seniors replace their MA plans with Medicare supplemental insurance — or Medigap — policies endorsed by the association.
Asked for confirmation, a spokeswoman for the committee said a hearing has been scheduled for next Friday, April 1.
An embarrassing hearing would not only hit AARP back for its support of the law, but fits in with the GOP's mantra that the law was written behind closed doors to favor Democratic allies. And policy-wise, it could empower Republicans to tackle Medigap policies, which many conservatives want to reform because they believe they contribute to over-utilization of the medical system by reducing out-of-pocket contributions.
Two Ways and Means Republicans — Reps. Wally Herger (Calif.), the No. 2 Republican on the panel, and Dave Reichert (Wash.) — led the charge against the seniors group during the healthcare reform debate, along with then-Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (Fla.).
"AARP unfortunately has become a mouthpiece for this president at the expense of what is best for America's seniors," Brown-Waite wrote in a letter to the association at the time.
Nifty! This could get very interesting.
It’s about time! The AARP is ACORN with gray hair. They are no different from the greens, NOW, or any other leftist organization. They have some cause that is their front, but their real goal is socialism.
I get so ticked off when I see that new ad of theirs about saving Social Security that I yell at the TV. I went to their website to particpate in their “conversation” about SS, but there were already several hundred comments, and the ones I read were all leftist tripe. It is hard to believe that many people think like Michael Moore (what’s yours is mine), but it’s true. No wonder this country is almost broke.
GOOD This is a horrible group. FReepers, don’t join!
AARP is nothing but an insurance company with Democrat political clout. They, along with big pharma companies, sealed a secret deal with BO so he would cut them in on the spoils from mandated health insurance.
Good for the Republicans for holding the AARP accountable. Next, they should call the big drug companies to a hearing.
I wouldn’t get all excited just yet. Lets see if the Spineless Party can stand up against the entitlement attitude of the ‘greatest’ generation and boomers. My suspicion is they’ll fold w/o so much as a whimper.
“Next, they should call the big drug companies to a hearing.”
Amen to that! I would also like to see some truth to how they conduct and report the results of their studies. We are overmedicalized and on too many pills. Many of them do more harm than good.
I am sure some digging would reveal that AARP would be donating generously to the DNC as a result of the new “profits”.
I was only a member for one year then I saw just how liberal a group it is. A lot of people are members and have no idea what the organization actually does. They just want that motel discount when they want a night out of the RV.
I cancelled my Medi-Gap coverage with AARP when it became clear they were in Obamao’s pocket.
Where was the GOP a year and a half ago when AARP was pushing ObamaCare?
Yeppers.
I never did, and I stopped my Mom’s subscription.
Just repeal the existing funding and defund the rest of it...
The grandstanding is not required.
Not in the Speaker’s chair
Payback
Is
A
Bitch!
Aug. 2009
Because of AARP’s supposed support of President Obama’s health care plan, as many as 60,000 people have canceled their AARP memberships since the beginning of July.
******
seniors with Medicare Advantage don’t need supplimental coverage. That’s why the AARP, which sells supplimental plans to seniors on traditional Medicare, backed ObamaCare’s deep cuts in the MA program
AARP lost 3 million people on the Part-D plan
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