DSCC: New DSCC Ad: Louisiana Seniors Can’t Trust Bill Cassidy

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued the following news release:

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is launching a new ad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGf-qauHFoo&feature=youtu.be) today in Louisiana that highlights how Louisiana seniors can't trust Congressman Bill Cassidy, who has consistently put millionaires ahead of seniors. Rep. Bill Cassidy cut taxes for millionaires while cutting Social Security and voting to reduce prescription drug coverage for seniors under Medicare. A woman in the ad blasts Cassidy, "Millionaires before seniors like me? I don't think so .We can't trust Bill Cassidy."

To watch "Friends" click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGf-qauHFoo&feature=youtu.be

"Congressman Bill Cassidy has a long record or prioritizing millionaires over Louisiana seniors," said Justin Barasky, Communications Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Louisiana seniors can't afford Bill Cassidy: he supported cutting taxes for millionaires while cutting Social Security and voting to reduce prescription drug coverage for seniors. The DSCC will continue to highlight how Rep. Cassidy's priorities are wrong for Louisiana."

BACKUP:

CLAIM

"FRIENDS" DOCUMENTATION

SENIOR: My friends and I are keeping a real close eye on Bill Cassidy.

NARRATOR: Congressman Cassidy consistently prioritizes tax cuts for millionaires while cutting Social Security.

TEXT: Congressman Cassidy

Prioritizes tax cuts for millionaires while cutting Social Security

Source: Vote 175, 4/10/14; Vote 86, 3/20/13

SENIOR: Millionaires before seniors like me?! I don't think so.

CASSIDY HAS CONSISTENTLY PRIORITIZED TAX CUTS FOR MILLIONAIRES

April 2014: Bill Cassidy Voted for The House Republican Budget For FY 2015. In April 2014, Bill Cassidy voted for the House Republican budget for FY 2015. The budget resolution was adopted, 219-205. [H Con Res 96, Vote #177, 4/10/14]

* Citizens For Tax Justice: Ryan FY 2015 Budget Would Give Millionaires An Average Tax Cut Of At Least $200,000. In April 2014, Citizens for Tax Justice reported: "As in previous years, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan has released a budget proposal that includes some specific, enormous tax cuts with a vague promise that the amount of revenue collected by the federal government would somehow be unchanged. There is no way the plan could be implemented without providing millionaires with tax cuts averaging at least $200,000." [Citizens for Tax Justice, 4/2/14]

March 2013: Cassidy Voted To Cut Taxes For Millionaires By Over $240,000 Per Year. Cassidy voted for the FY14 Ryan budget. According to the Committee on Budget and Policy Priorities, "If policymakers enacted the same extremely ambitious reductions in tax expenditures for filers with incomes above $200,000 that TPC assumed when it analyzed Romney's tax plan, filers with incomes of $1 million or more would lose tax breaks totaling about $90,000 on average -- still leaving them with an average net tax cut of about $245,000. Households with incomes above $200,000 would get a net cut of about $16,000. [CBPP, 3/17/13; H Con Res 25,Vote #88, 3/21/13]

* Tax Policy Center: GOP Budget Increases After-Tax Income for Millionaires by 20 Percent. As reported by the Washington Post, "The tax plan embedded in the House Republican budget would cut taxes by $5.7 trillion over the next decade, with the benefits flowing disproportionately to very wealthy households, according to a new analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Taxpayers earning more than $1 million a year would benefit the most from the GOP tax plan, the analysis shows, reaping an average $400,000 tax break that would send their after-tax income soaring by nearly 20 percent." [Washington Post, 3/15/13; Tax Policy Center, 3/15/13]

March 2012: Cassidy Voted for House Republican Budget for FY 2013. In March 2012, Cassidy voted for the House Republican budget for FY 2013. The budget resolution was adopted, 228-191. [H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12]

* House Republican Budget Would Give People Making Over $1 Million Per Year a $394,000 Tax Cut; $265,000 Of That New And The Remainder From Bush Tax Cut Extension. "New analysis by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (TPC) finds that people earning more than $1 million a year would receive $265,000 apiece in new tax cuts, on average, on top of the $129,000 they would receive from the Ryan budget's extension of President Bush's tax cuts." [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/12/12; see also Tax Policy Center, Table T12-0078 and T10-0132]

April 2011: Cassidy Voted for House Republican Budget for FY 2012. In April 2011, Cassidy voted for the House Republican budget for FY 2012. The budget resolution was adopted, 235-193. [H Con Res 34, Vote 277, 4/15/11]

* Ryan Plan Would Give Millionaires Tax Cuts Of $125,000 Per Year. In April 2011, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities analyzed Ryan's plan and stated "People with incomes over $1 million would receive average tax cuts of $125,000 a year -- or more than $1 million over the coming decade -- if these tax cuts are made permanent, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. The $125,000 figure does not include the additional tax cuts that high-income households would receive from the evisceration of the estate tax (or from additional cuts that people earning at least $1million a year would receive from Ryan's call to cut the top tax rate to 25 percent as part of revenue neutral tax reform)." [CBPP, 4/20/11]

INCLUDING WHEN HE PRIORITIZED TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY WHILE CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY

2014: Cassidy Voted For A Budget That Raised The Social Security Retirement Age To 70 And Cut Social Security Benefits By Switching To Chained CPI For Cost-Of-Living Adjustments. On April 10, 2014, Cassidy voted for the FY 15 Republican Study Committee Budget. According to the Republican Study Committee, the budget would increase the Social Security full retirement age to 70 and cut benefits by instituting chained CPI. The budget notes that switching to Chained CPI would save the government $137 billion over the next ten years. [Vote 175, 4/10/14; Republican Study Committee, accessed 4/8/14]

The FY 2015 RSC Budget Called For Tax Reform That Created A Top Rate Of 25%. "This budget calls on the Ways and Means Committee to issue a tax reform draft that conforms to the following parameters: - Aims for revenue neutrality (relative to the CBO baseline revenue projection) based on a dynamic score that takes into account macroeconomic effects. -SimplidZes the individual rates from seven brackets to two, with a top rate of 25 percent. -SimplidZes the tax code by ensuring that fewer Americans will be required to itemize their deductions. -Gives equal tax treatment to individual and employer health care expenditures modeled on the American Health Care Reform Act (H.R. 3121)." [RSC FY 2015 Budget, April 2014]

* A TPC Analysis Of The 2012 Ryan Budget, Which Cut The Top Individual Rate To 25%, Found Those Who Earned Over $1 Million Would Receive A Tax Cut Of Over $250,000. "The Ryan budget includes a number of specific tax cuts, on top of making the Bush tax cuts permanent. All of its new tax cuts are both expensive and tilted toward high-income households. It would cut the top individual tax rate to 25 percent, the lowest level since the Hoover Administration more than 80 years ago. It would cut the corporate rate to 25 percent and eliminate both the Alternative Minimum Tax and the Affordable Care Act's increase in the Medicare tax for high-income people. A new TPC analysis finds that people with incomes above $1 million would receive a $265,000 average annual tax cut just from the new Ryan proposals (i.e., not counting what they would also receive from extension of the Bush tax cuts). Middle-income taxpayers with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 would receive $975, on average." [CBPP, 4/12/12]

* The TPC Analysis Of The Ryan Budget Found After Tax Income For Those Making $1 Million Rose By 12.5%. "The new TPC figures show that the Ryan tax cuts are starkly regressive: after-tax incomes of people who make more than $1 million a year would rise by 12.5 percent, on average -- seven times more than the 1.8 percent average gain for middle-income households. Underscoring how tilted the proposal is toward the top, the TPC figures show that people making more than $1 million a year would receive 39 percent of the new Ryan tax cuts even though they constitute less than one-half of 1 percent of U.S. households (see Figure 2)." [CBPP, 4/12/12]

2013: Cassidy Voted For Republican Study Committee Budget That Cut Social Security Benefits By Switching To Chained CPI For Cost-Of-Living Adjustments. In 2013, Cassidy voted for the Republican Study Committee budget that "would assume the transformation of Medicare into a premium support program that would compete against private plans." According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the budget "transitions Medicare to a premium support system by 2019 for new beneficiaries, and raises the Medicare retirement age to 70 and indexes it to life expectancy Unlike other budgets, [Republican Study Budget] also addresses Social Security specifically by switching to the chained CPI for cost-of-living adjustments and increasing the full retirement age to 70 and indexing it for life expectancy." [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/20/13; Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, 3/19/13]

* RSC Budget Cuts Tax Bracket for Wealthiest Americans, Consolidates Income Taxes to Two Brackets at 25 Percent and 15 Percent. The RSC's FY 2014 budget blueprint would establish: "Just two rates -- 15 percent (first $50,000 taxable income for single filers, $100,000 for joint filers) and 25 percent (taxable income above those amounts); A standard deduction of $12,500 for single filers, and $25,000 for joint filers; An additional deduction of $12,500 for each dependent; and No other individual deductions or credits or exclusions." [RSC Budget, March 2013]

CHAINED CPI WOULD CUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS BY BILLIONS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS

AARP: Chained CPI "Would Have A Detrimental Impact On The Economic Wellbeing Of Older And Disabled Americans And Their Family Members Who Receive Benefits From Social Security." According to the AARP, "Changing the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) using a chained CPI would have a detrimental impact on the economic wellbeing of older and disabled Americans and their family members who receive benefits from Social Security. Small reductions to the annual COLA will accumulate over time so that the largest reductions in benefits will be on the oldest beneficiaries and the long-term disabled. For example, 92- year-old beneficiaries who were on the program for 30 years would see an 8.4% cut in benefits. Disabled children could face even larger benefit cuts over their lifetime. Oldest Americans are the least able to absorb cuts to their benefits as they are more reliant on Social Security for their income and have higher out-of-pocket medical spending and a higher poverty rate than younger Americans." [AARP, October 2012]

* AARP: 92 Year Old Retiree Would See An 8.4% Cut In Benefits Under Chained CPI. According to the AARP, "Changing the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) using a chained CPI would have a detrimental impact on the economic wellbeing of older and disabled Americans and their family members who receive benefits from Social Security. Small reductions to the annual COLA will accumulate over time so that the largest reductions in benefits will be on the oldest beneficiaries and the long-term disabled. For example, 92- year-old beneficiaries who were on the program for 30 years would see an 8.4% cut in benefits. Disabled children could face even larger benefit cuts over their lifetime. Oldest Americans are the least able to absorb cuts to their benefits as they are more reliant on Social Security for their income and have higher out-of-pocket medical spending and a higher poverty rate than younger Americans." [AARP, October 2012]

AARP: "Although Many Have Attempted To Characterize The Chained CPI As A Minor Tweak, It Is In Fact A Significant Benefit Cut That Snowballs Over Time." According to AARP, "Although many have attempted to characterize the chained CPI as a minor tweak, it is in fact a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of chained CPI would take approximately $340 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled, as well as the local economies in which they live, in the next 10 years alone. Specific to Social Security, the chained CPI cuts benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years." [AARP, 8/12/13]

AARP: "Specific To Social Security, The Chained CPI Cuts Benefits By $127 Billion Over The Next 10 Years." According to AARP, "Although many have attempted to characterize the chained CPI as a minor tweak, it is in fact a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of chained CPI would take approximately $340 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled, as well as the local economies in which they live, in the next 10 years alone. Specific to Social Security, the chained CPI cuts benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years." [AARP, 8/12/13]

INCLUDING FOR CURRENT SENIORS

AARP: "Chained CPI Would Take Approximately $340 Billion Dollars Out Of The Pockets Of Current And Near Retirees, Working Families, Veterans And The Disabled." According to AARP, "Although many have attempted to characterize the chained CPI as a minor tweak, it is in fact a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of chained CPI would take approximately $340 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled, as well as the local economies in which they live, in the next 10 years alone. Specific to Social Security, the chained CPI cuts benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years." [AARP, 8/12/13]

For A 65 Year Old, Switching To Chained CPI Would Result In $658 Cut Each Year At Age 75, $1,147 By Age 85, And Result In Cumulative Cuts Of $4,462 At Age 75, $13,921 At Age 85, And $28,015 At Age 95." "These earned benefits would be taken directly from beneficiaries, as Figures 1 and 2 show. The average earner retiring at age 65 would get a $658 cut each year at age 75, and a $1,147 cut by age 85. By age 95, when Social Security benefits are typically needed most, that person faces a staggering 9.2 percent cut (Figure 1). What is far more severe is the cumulative effect of the COLA cut as it compounds over time. The average earner retiring at age 65 would get a cumulative cut of $4,642 at age 75, $13,921 at age 85, and $28,015 at age 95." [Social Security Works, Chained CPI Fact Sheet, February 2013]

NARRATOR: But that's not all. Cassidy voted to reduce prescription drug coverage for seniors under Medicare.

TEXT: Congressman Cassidy

Voted to reduce prescription drug coverage

Source: Vote 175, 4/10/14; Vote 86, 3/20/13

IF CASSIDY HAD HIS WAY, SENIORS WOULD PAY THOUSANDS MORE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER MEDICARE

2014: Cassidy Voted For FY 2015 Republican Senate Committee Budget. On April 10, 2014, Cassidy voted for the FY 15 Republican Study Committee Budget. According to the Republican Study Committee, the budget would increase the Social Security full retirement age to 70 and cut benefits by instituting chained CPI. The budget notes that switching to Chained CPI would save the government $137 billion over the next ten years. [H. Con. Res 96, Vote 175, 4/10/14; Republican Study Committee, accessed 4/8/14]

* FY 2015 RSC Budget "Repeals The Entirety Of Obamacare." According to the Republican Study Committee, "the RSC's FY 2015 budget balances in four years, repeals the entirety of Obamacare and outlines an alternative vision for health care in The American Health Care Reform Act, and calls for enactment of the RSC's JOBS Act." [Republican Study Committee, Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, accessed 9/9/14]

2013: Cassidy Voted For FY 2014 Republican Study Committee Budget. In 2013, Cassidy voted for the Republican Study Committee budget that "would assume the transformation of Medicare into a premium support program that would compete against private plans." According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the budget "transitions Medicare to a premium support system by 2019 for new beneficiaries, and raises the Medicare retirement age to 70 and indexes it to life expectancy Unlike other budgets, [Republican Study Budget] also addresses Social Security specifically by switching to the chained CPI for cost-of-living adjustments and increasing the full retirement age to 70 and indexing it for life expectancy." [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/20/13; Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, 3/19/13]

* FY 2014 RSC Budget "Repeals The Entirety Of Obamacare." According to the Republican Study Committee, "Our proposal repeals the entirety of ObamaCare (including all ObamaCare tax provisions), eliminating the government intrusion into healthcare, stopping the law's conscience-infringing mandates, restoring choice to patients and families, and returning flexibility to the states." [Republican Study Committee, Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, accessed 9/9/14]

Under ACA, More Than 3.5 Million Seniors Received Discounts On Prescription Drugs. According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services: "In 2012, more than 3.5 million seniors and people with disabilities who reached the Medicare Part D coverage gap received discounts on brand- name prescription drugs. These individuals with Medicare received more than $2.5 billion in discounts, or an average of $706 per beneficiary. Savings for covered generic drugs while in the "donut hole" in 2012 totaled $105 million for 2.8 million beneficiaries." [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2012]

* AARP: Repealing ACA Would Force Medicare Recipients to Pay More for Prescription Drugs. "If this is the case, by repealing the Affordable Care Act, the budget proposal would re-open the gap in prescription drug coverage known as the 'doughnut hole.' As a result of the health reform law more than 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have saved over $3.2 billion on prescription drugs. [ ] If this budget proposes to repeal the [Affordable Care Act] it would negate much needed savings for Medicare beneficiaries just as prescription drugs costs continue to rise." [AARP Letter, 3/21/12]

* Under ACA, Louisiana Seniors Saved $167 Million On Prescription Drugs. "In Louisiana, people with Medicare have saved nearly $167,948,155 on prescription drugs because of the Affordable Care Act. In 2013 alone, 65,043 individuals in Louisiana saved over $56,089,898, or an average of $862 per beneficiary. In 2014, people with Medicare in the 'donut hole' received a 53 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and a 28 percent discount on generic drugs. And thanks to the health care law, coverage for both brand name and generic drugs will continue to increase over time until the coverage gap is closed. Nationally, over 8.2 million people with Medicare have saved over $11.5 billion on prescription drugs since the law's enactment, for an average savings of $1,407 per beneficiary." [Department of Health and Human Services, Louisiana, 8/15/14]

* On Average, Louisiana Beneficiaries Have Saved $862 In 2013 Alone. "In Louisiana, people with Medicare have saved nearly $167,948,155 on prescription drugs because of the Affordable Care Act. In 2013 alone, 65,043 individuals in Louisiana saved over $56,089,898, or an average of $862 per beneficiary. In 2014, people with Medicare in the 'donut hole' received a 53 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and a 28 percent discount on generic drugs. And thanks to the health care law, coverage for both brand name and generic drugs will continue to increase over time until the coverage gap is closed. Nationally, over 8.2 million people with Medicare have saved over $11.5 billion on prescription drugs since the law's enactment, for an average savings of $1,407 per beneficiary." [Department of Health and Human Services, Louisiana, 8/15/14]

SENIOR: Seniors can't afford to pay more.

SENIOR: We can't trust Bill Cassidy.

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