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Allen West slams opponent for Medicare cuts West backed
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) is attacking his Democratic opponent for supporting $716 billion in Medicare cuts — the same cuts West backed when he voted for Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget plans.
In a new ad, West blasts Patrick Murphy for supporting President Obama's healthcare law, which cut Medicare spending by $716 billion. The 30-second spot features seniors calling Murphy "dangerous" to Medicare.
But West voted for the same reductions when he supported Ryan's last two budget plans. Both sets of cuts are aimed at extending Medicare's lifetime.
"Unlike Patrick Murphy, congressional Democrats and a president who
work off phony numbers to excuse their dangerous spending, Congressman
West voted for a budget that takes into account the unfortunate reality
that the Democrats’ $716 billion cut to Medicare is currently law,"
Edson said.
He added that West voted several times to repeal healthcare reform, a move that would restore the $716 billion to Medicare unless the Ryan budget is signed into law.
"Seniors face real differences in this race for Congress when it comes to protecting Medicare for current seniors and future generations," West said in a statement released with the new ad.
"I will ensure benefits are maintained for seniors and that Medicare exists for our children and grandchildren."
West's charge against Murphy mirrors one of Mitt Romney's campaign trail attacks on President Obama.
Ryan, Romney's running mate, defended the accusation in July, saying his Medicare cuts "keep that money for Medicare to extend its solvency" while Obama took "money from Medicare to spend on ObamaCare."
The Hill rates the West-Murphy contest "Toss-up."
—This post was updated at 9:36 p.m.
