Democratic Congressional candidate Richard Becker, who is running against Republican Nan Hayworth for her seat in the 19th district, issued a statement today slamming Ms. Hayworth for claiming to have a moderate voting record on Capitol Tonight yesterday while supporting the Medicare overhaul plan proposed by the GOP’s top budget writer, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
“Claiming to be a moderate on the same day that the profoundly radical Ryan Plan was re-released takes plenty of Chutzpah,” Mr. Becker said.
“Nan clearly recognizes that her close ties to the House Republican leadership are toxic here in the Hudson Valley, but we’re not going to let her ignore the consistent record of extremism she’s built over her Congressional career,” Becker continued.
Mr. Ryan’s health plan is just one part of his overall budget. The Ryan health plan would give future retirees “premium support” payments to choose their own health insurance through an exchange including private plans and a government option similar to the traditional Medicare program. Mr. Becker said the Ryan Plan is equivalent to “turning Medicare into a voucher program” and described Ms. Hayworth’s support of the plan as “Exhibit A in a long list of instances when Nan hasn’t put the Hudson Valley or the middle class first.” In an appearance on Capital Tonight last year, Ms. Hayworth argued the premium support model is similar to the health insurance program currently offered to members of Congress.
“Members of Congress have a program that’s been widely praised that provides premium support and lets them choose among an array of approved insurance programs. And that’s what Medicare would do,” Ms. Hayworth said.
Interestingly, Ms. Hayworth opted to keep her own private insurance plan from her prior medical career when she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010.
In his statement, Mr. Becker said Ms. Hayworth’s record clearly shows she’s not a moderate.
“Maybe she’s hoping that we’re stuck in the pre-Google age, where her Tea Party votes aren’t easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection,” Mr. Becker said. “Nan clearly recognizes that her close ties to the House Republican leadership are toxic here in the Hudson Valley, but we’re not going to let her ignore the consistent record of extremism she’s built over her Congressional career.”
Mr. Becker’s statement was accompanied by a two-page document from his campaign spokesman, Barry Caro, identifying five examples of Ms. Hayworth’s “out of touch extremism” including; her support for other elements of the Ryan Plan, her belief Hurricane Irene aid should have been accompanied by spending cuts and her positions on birth control.
