NYT Couldn’t Find the Missing $716 Billion in the Romney-Ryan Medicare Plan
The NYT did a classic he said/she said on the debate between the presidential candidates over Medicare. While such coverage is easy for reporters it is not very helpful to readers who generally have less time than reporters to determine the truth of specific claims.
For example, it might have been helpful to point out to readers that the Romney-Ryan budget assumes $716 billion in unspecified cuts to Medicare over the next decade. These mystery cuts are due to the fact that they have promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and thereby get rid of the projected Medicare savings for which it provides. Nonetheless, the budget assumes that Medicare would cost the same as President Obama had projected with these cuts.
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About the Author
Dean Baker
Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research
Dean Baker is frequently cited in economics reporting in major media outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, CNBC, and National Public Radio. He writes a weekly column for the Guardian Unlimited (UK), the Huffington Post, TruthOut, and his blog, Beat the Press, features commentary on economic reporting. His analyses have appeared in ...
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