On July 19, Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) voted for HR 2560, the Republican bill that would cut, cap, and end Medicare as we know it. The bill would also require a 2/3 vote for certain tax increases and a constitutional amendment to balance the budget.
Dold, who now lives in the newly remapped 9th Congressional District, possesses neither the wisdom nor the independence to represent the 10th District. Our country faces a major crisis if the debt ceiling is not raised.
The responsible solution is to raise the debt ceiling, not to play a reckless game of chicken with our economic future by conditioning increasing the federal debt limit on setting arbitrary spending levels or amending the Constitution.
The bill Dold voted for would undercut the federal government’s ability to meet its core commitments to seniors, middle-class families and the most vulnerable, while reducing our ability to invest in our future. H. R. 2560 would set unrealistic spending caps that could result in significant cuts to education, research and development, and other programs critical to growing our economy and winning the future. It could also lead to severe cuts in Medicare and Social Security, which are growing to accommodate the retirement of the baby boomers, and put at risk the retirement security for tens of millions of Americans.
Furthermore, H. R. 2560 could require even deeper cuts, since it conditions an increase in the federal debt limit on Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment. H. R. 2560 sets out a false and unacceptable choice between the federal government defaulting on its obligations now or, alternatively, passing a Balanced Budget Amendment that, in the years ahead, will likely leave the nation unable to meet its core commitment of ensuring dignity in retirement.
The non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities wrote that “Cut, Cap and End Medicare” is an “ideologically extreme” plan that “would inexorably subject Social Security and Medicare to deep reduction.
In the short time Dold has misrepresented us in Congress, he’s done nothing to create jobs or get the economy back on track. Instead, he voted for the Republican anti-choice bill (H.R. 3) and he’s supported extreme Republican measures that would hurt children and seniors.
Dold is out of step with our values and our concerns, and he proved it again with his irresponsible vote to cut, cap, and end Medicare as we know it. Now we have to act responsibly: by voting Dold out of office.
We have two outstanding Democrats running to replace Dold and represent us in Congress, not the special interests. Please learn more about Brad Schneider and Ilya Sheyman and do what you can to help them build strong campaigns.
–Tenth Dems