THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 20, 1996 TAG: 9609200738
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Decision '96
SOURCE: [David Poole, staff writer]
LENGTH: 65 lines
Memo to Virginians
Re: Medicare, the future and an emerging U.S. Senate campaign theme
From: David M. Poole
Neither John nor Mark Warner strays from his party's line when talking about Medicare.
U.S. Sen. John Warner voted for a 1995 Republican budget that would have slowed runaway Medicare spending by $270 billion over seven years. He describes that budget as a courageous first step to ensure Medicare's solvency.
Democratic challenger Mark Warner replies that there is nothing heroic about a budget that would have taken medical benefits from senior citizens to finance a $240 billion tax cut, most of it benefiting the wealthiest Americans.
As yet, neither candidate has moved beyond these lines - which echo a national partisan flap - to talk frankly about the long-term sacrifices needed to save the hospitalization plan that serves 825,000 people over 65 and disabled Virginians.
``When it comes to middle-class issues, politicians flinch,'' said James Ridge, spokesman for the Concord Coalition, a bipartisan group advocating a balanced federal budget.
A poll of Virginians' concerns conducted by The Virginian-Pilot indicates that most people want leaders who will tell them what government can and cannot do.
But neither candidate is talking about the harsh realities of Medicare, which is expected to go bankrupt by the year 2001. Even if the growth slowed, the system soon would be overwhelmed by the wave of baby boomers who will begin retiring in 2010. The elderly population will surge to the point where more than one in five Americans will qualify for Medicare by 2030.
Experts offer several long-term solutions, all requiring seniors to pay higher premiums and receive fewer services.
The Republican Congress sought to address the short-term problem last year by voting to slow Medicare spending growth by $270 billion. But Republicans left themselves open to criticism by voting at the same time for a $240 billion tax cut.
President Clinton vetoed the bill, accusing Republicans of balancing the budget on the backs of seniors.
Mark Warner has made the same argument at a series of campaign appearances at senior centers this week and in a TV ad, which casts John Warner as an ideologue dancing to the tune of House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
On Tuesday, John Warner accused his challenger of distorting his record and trying to scare old people. He challenged Mark Warner to put forward his own plan for saving Medicare.
Mark Warner declined to provide specifics, other than to say he would support $150 billion in cuts that many in Congress now support.
Like President Clinton, Mark Warner would prefer to put the onus of a solution on a bipartisan commission that would report to Congress.
Ridge, of the Concord Coalition, noted that a similar approach failed a few years ago.
``They came up with a lot of great ideas, and everyone ignored them, particularly President Clinton,'' Ridge said. ``The political will just wasn't there.'' MEMO: Look for more memos through Election Day, Nov. 5. by CNB