Senate Democrats, wary of “losing an important constituency, are using their week-long Memorial Day recess to reach out to senior citizens,” The Hill reports.
The Senate adjourned Friday without acting to prevent a 21.3 percent scheduled cut in Medicaid payments to doctors, and lawmakers are still recovering from the divisive debate over the healthcare reform bill, which was unpopular with many seniors.
To explain those and other parts of the party’s agenda, Senate Democratic leaders want members to hold town hall forums at senior centers to promote how the recent Wall Street reform bill “will protect seniors from predatory lending programs and safeguard their retirement savings,” and to spread the word that the healthcare bill is bringing immediate benefits.
“Health insurance reform, particularly as it relates to seniors, is one of the most important things for senators to discuss when they are home for recess,” reads a packet distributed to Democratic members. “In order to get the message out ahead of talk of health reform repeal, senators should talk with seniors about the benefits they are going to see immediately and those they will be seeing over the coming months and years.”
Republicans:
The Senate Republican packet is only a single page, focusing solely on “Jobs — Debt — Terror” and urging GOP senators to spread word that Democratic congressional leaders are focused on “Too many taxes… Too much debt… Too much spending… And too many Washington takeovers.” The GOP packet also zeroes in on healthcare, calling it “Exhibit A” of a “Runaway Washington Government.”
(credit image – huffington post)
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