Kaine Campaign: Allen Embraces “agenda that would devastate priorities that matter to Virginians”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2012 

CONTACT:
Kaine for Virginia Press Office
(804) 359-7106
press@kaineforva.com
 

Richmond, VA – As George Allen campaigns across Virginia today, he continues to advocate an agenda that would devastate priorities that matter to Virginians. At an event today to announce the selection of Congressman Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's vice presidential nominee, George Allen sent a message to Virginia families, businesses, and seniors that his priorities are massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and profitable big oil companies while raising taxes on the middle class, and dismantling the current Medicare system that keeps our seniors healthy and ensures a retirement of dignity.
 
“By standing with Paul Ryan today, George Allen continues to embrace a plan that would force hundreds of thousands of Virginia seniors to pay nearly $6000 more each year in health care. Budgets are about priorities and George Allen’s approach would gut Medicare resources for millions of American seniors, devastate investments for education and infrastructure that grow our economy, while defending irresponsible tax breaks for the wealthiest that ballooned our deficit and drove up our debt,” said Kaine for Virginia Communications Director Brandi Hoffine. “Instead of taking a balanced approach to fixing the fiscal challenges he helped create, George Allen continues to place the burden of deficit reduction on the backs of Virginia’s middle class families, students, and seniors. These priorities would be damaging to economic growth and Virginians know we can’t afford them.”  

Here’s just a few highlights of the plan George Allen has called a “worthwhile approach”:

• 114,768 Virginia seniors would pay more for prescription drugs. [Department of Health and Human Services, 3/19/12]

• Starting in 2023, 1.2 million Virginia seniors would be put on health care vouchers instead of the current Medicare system. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/20/12]

• More than 870,000 Virginia seniors would lose free preventive care. [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2/15/12]

• Increase taxes on middle class Virginia families by $1,300. [Joint Economic Council,6/20/12]

• Increase out of pocket health care costs for seniors by nearly $6000. [Center for American Progress, 3/2012]

• Eliminate thousands of spots in the Head Start program that prepares kids to succeed in school. [National Education Association, 3/26/12]