A bill by Senate Republicans that would impose automatic cuts on Medicare, Medicaid and other federal entitlement programs has gained one Democratic supporter, according to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who faces a tough re-election campaign in 2012, is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). The measure would put a cap on federal entitlement spending amounting to almost $8 trillion in cuts in the next 10 years. The House and Senate would need a super majority of two-thirds to undo the cuts.
Sponsors said the threat of automatic cuts would be an incentive to redesign entitlement programs. But Senate Democratic leaders, who control that chamber, denounced the bill and other Senate Democrats are not expected to join Sen. McCaskill.
Read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report on Medicare.
Read more coverage on plans to cut Medicare spending.
- House GOP Considers Plan to Privatize Medicare
- GOP Bill Would Repeal Medicare Rate-Setting Board
- Federal Deficit Panel's Draft Report Includes Fee-Fix, Cuts for Hospitals
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who faces a tough re-election campaign in 2012, is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). The measure would put a cap on federal entitlement spending amounting to almost $8 trillion in cuts in the next 10 years. The House and Senate would need a super majority of two-thirds to undo the cuts.
Sponsors said the threat of automatic cuts would be an incentive to redesign entitlement programs. But Senate Democratic leaders, who control that chamber, denounced the bill and other Senate Democrats are not expected to join Sen. McCaskill.
Read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report on Medicare.
Read more coverage on plans to cut Medicare spending.
- House GOP Considers Plan to Privatize Medicare
- GOP Bill Would Repeal Medicare Rate-Setting Board
- Federal Deficit Panel's Draft Report Includes Fee-Fix, Cuts for Hospitals