Kerry: "In 1997, We Fixed Medicare" "We Balanced the Budget" Really? Check the Voting Record, John.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_member.php?vote_id=1328

[zencycler]

Here's what Kerry said in the 2nd debate:

KERRY: Actually, Mr. President, in 1997 we fixed Medicare, and I was one of the people involved in it.

We not only fixed Medicare and took it way out into the future, we did something that you don't know how to do: We balanced the budget. And we paid down the debt of our nation for two years in a row, and we created 23 million new jobs at the same time.

No, maybe I'm missing something, but I think he's referring to the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which included provisions for protecting the viability of medicare. The link above shows that Kerry voted "NO". Also, as everyone should remember, this was a Republcan led effort. Is anyone in the media talking about this?

[reformedliberal]

Silly! That WAS the fix!

On the road to National Healthcare, first you have to make doctors unwilling to accept Medicare. Then you can pass laws to control the practice of medicine and call it *providing* for the seniors. Then you extend it to everyone.

Incrementalism at work.

[Capriole]

Silly! That WAS the fix! On the road to National Healthcare, first you have to make doctors unwilling to accept Medicare. Then you can pass laws to control the practice of medicine and call it *providing* for the seniors. Then you extend it to everyone. Incrementalism at work.

(hitting self in forehead) Of course. How stupid of me. You're absolutely right. WHEN am I going to grow up and learn to recognize this stuff? Thank you for pointing it out.

[gooleyman]

Excellent Link. Thank you very much!!!

[rotundusmaximus]

However, a Bush increase seemed so inconceivable that someone did some homework on the issue. As it turns out, the 17% increase was not imposed by President Bush but was mandated by the "balanced budget agreement” signed by President Clinton, voted into law by Senator John Kerry, and was scheduled to come into effect during the Bush administration. President Bush had no authority to reverse what had been voted into law by Senator Kerry during the Clinton administration. Once again Kerry is counting on the IGNORANCE of the American people.

Great information,do you have the year that this was passed, the number or anything that will make it easy to look up on Project Vote Smart. I have several people I would like to send the info. to. Thanks

[show me state]

---

KERRY: ... we paid down the debt of our nation for two years in a row, ...

I don't see any two years where the debt was "paid down."

The Debt To the Penny

	  09/30/2004        $7,379,052,696,330.32
	  09/30/2003        $6,783,231,062,743.62
	  09/30/2002        $6,228,235,965,597.16
	  09/28/2001        $5,807,463,412,200.06
	  09/29/2000        $5,674,178,209,886.86
	  09/30/1999        $5,656,270,901,615.43
	  09/30/1998        $5,526,193,008,897.62
	  09/30/1997        $5,413,146,011,397.34
	  09/30/1996        $5,224,810,939,135.73
	  09/29/1995        $4,973,982,900,709.39
	  09/30/1994        $4,692,749,910,013.32
	  09/30/1993        $4,411,488,883,139.38
	  09/30/1992        $4,064,620,655,521.66
	  09/30/1991        $3,665,303,351,697.03
	  09/28/1990        $3,233,313,451,777.25
	  09/29/1989        $2,857,430,960,187.32
	  09/30/1988        $2,602,337,712,041.16
	  09/30/1987        $2,350,276,890,953.00
	
	
	SOURCE:  BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT
	

[IrishRainy]

Yeah, and that "17%" sounds so horrible til you plug in the numbers. Since seniors pay about $67.00 for this benefit now, in the future it will cost them a whopping $78.00. How ever will they afford it? /sarcasm

[kcvl]

bttt

[IrishRainy]

The Senator seems to have signficant memory gaps and altered realities.

Apparently, so does his staff. Last Friday on Hardball before the debate, I heard Stephanie Cutter, his media hack, say that Sen. Kerry cast the deciding vote in the Clinton administration's budget package that went on "to produce 22 million jobs," etc.

Only trouble was, that was Sen. Bob KERREY! I can't believe they're still peddling that story, especially since this "error" was brought to their attention a few months ago when it was spotted on his website.

Of course, nobody in the media says anything when Kerry does it, but when Cheney can't remember meeting little Johnny Ray, he's "lying."