U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley spoke to supporters and the media who gathered along Vasser Street in Reno by the Social Security office to listen to the Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful speak. Berkley was in town promoting her “Proud to protect Medicare and Social Security” state-wide tour.
Democratic Senate hopeful Shelley Berkley made a campaign stop in Reno Wednesday afternoon denouncing her opponent's plan to revamp Medicare and Social Security as we know it.
As part of Berkley’s “Proud to Protect Medicare and Social Security” statewide tour that continues with a roundtable with seniors in Carson City and Fallon Thursday — followed by another speech to seniors in Las Vegas Friday — the Congresswoman talked less about her own record than she did about Heller, Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan’s records.
Calling it the “Dean Heller-Paul Ryan-Mitt Romney plan to end Medicare as we know it” plan, Berkley spoke about warm memories of yesteryear when the programs were first voted into existence and what she believes is an attack to dismantle them.
“They are under attack by Washington, D.C. Republicans like my opponent Sen. Heller,” Berkley said. “Dean Heller said he was ‘proud’ to be the only member of Congress to vote twice to essentially end Medicare by turning the program over to profit-hungry private insurance companies and expressed support for privatizing Social Security and turning seniors’ retirement savings over to reckless Wall Street banks. Nothing makes me prouder than fighting to protect Medicare and Social Security from Republican attempts to dismantle these two programs.”
Heller’s campaign spokeswoman, Chandler Smith, disagreed. “Shelley Berkley is the only candidate in this race who voted to cut over $500 billion from Medicare, and that became the law of the land. She has chosen to keep Medicare on a path toward bankruptcy in 10 years so she can fund the massive government healthcare takeover called ObamaCare. Congresswoman Berkley has continued to ignore the problem and jeopardize seniors access to care so she can continue to play politics and base her entire campaign on the ‘Lie of the Year.’”
Heller, R-NV, spent Thursday with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, at a luncheon reception in Las Vegas. The event was a fundraiser from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., held at the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian.
One of Berkley’s main points was the fact that she believed Heller’s plan was to turn Medicare over to “profit-hungry private insurance companies.” Under the plan, these companies would be placed between a senior and their doctors and premiums would go up by $6,000 a year, and prescription drugs would become more costly, she said.
She also accused Heller of trying to “dismantle” Medicare, shipping American jobs overseas and pushing for more taxpayer subsidies for the rich.
“I’m sure Heller couldn’t be more pleased with the selection of Paul Ryan,” Berkley said. “It doesn’t make sense. The big guys don’t need our help. They’re doing just fine. The working class needs our help. The seniors need our help. I’m worried that Social Security and Medicare won’t be there for me. What am I going to do? This is what this election is all about. This is what motivates me to run for the United States Senate.”
Heller will hold a rally today at 3 p.m. in Reno at Mambo’s, 3650 S. Virginia St. with Rubio, R-FL, where Rubio will “rally support” for Heller.
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