Tarryl Clark for Congress

"But basically what we have to do is wean everybody else off. And wean everybody off because we have to take those unfunded net liabilities off our bank sheet..."

-Michele Bachmann, Feb. 2010

BACHMANN'S VOTES HAVE BEEN DAMAGING

Bachmann Voted Against Allowing Medicare To Negotiate Prescription Drug Prices. On January 12, 2007, only days in to her first term in Congress, Bachmann voted against a bill allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. While she was joined in her 'no' vote by fellow Minnesotan John Kline, the bill passed the House 255-170. [Vote #23, 110th Congress, 1st Session]

Bachmann Was One Of Only 59 Members To Vote Against Passage Of The 2008 Medicare Bill. In June 2008, the House passed HR 6331, a sweeping Medicare bill on a vote of 355-59. Bachmann was one of only 59 members and the only member of the Minnesota delegation to vote against the bill. [Vote #443, 110th Congress, 2nd Session]

Bachmann Voted Against Updating Medicare Physician Fee Schedules And Reinstating PAYGO. In November 2009, Bachmann voted against a bill to restructure the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate payment system and reinstate the statutory Pay-As-You-Go budget rule. She was joined in her 'no' vote on HR 3961 by Representatives Kline, Paulson, and Peterson of Minnesota. The bill passed the House 243-183. [Vote #909, 111th Congress, 1st Session]

MICHELE BACHMANN: DISMANTLING RETIREMENT

SOCIAL SECURITY

Bachmann has long been a proponent of privatizing Social Security. She may not tell AARP and other seniors' groups the truth, but her constant use of incorrect and misleading statistics to advocate for the creation of private accounts don't lie.

Bachmann Advocated Privatizing Social Security. In February 2005, the Pioneer Press wrote, "During her announcement Monday, Bachmann also mentioned national security and a Social Security overhaul, which she later said should include privatization, as key priorities should she win a seat in Congress." [Pioneer Press, 02/15/05]

Bachmann Favored The Social Security Privatization That The AARP Opposed. In November 2006, the Star Tribune wrote, "Social Security: Bachmann also favors the idea that is often called partial privatization of Social Security, although she rejects the word "privatization" to describe it. In answering a questionnaire from the AARP, Bachmann said she was against privatization, which is the AARP position. But she didn't make clear that she means something different by the term and that the 'privatization' that the AARP opposes is what Bachmann favors." [Star Tribune, 11/02/06]

Bachmann Said Social Security Was Broke. A September 2009 release from her Congresswoman Bachmann's office stated, "For instance, according to a report just released by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Social Security is broke." And, "The CBO now projects that Social Security's costs will exceed tax income in 2010 (next year!) and 2011, with cash surpluses returning over the 2012-2015 period and becoming negative again beginning in 2016 and later. In their March 2009 estimates, the CBO projected that the cash surplus would be positive through 2016." [Statement from the Office of Representative Michele Bachmann, 09/08/09]

MEDICARE

Bachmann has long been an ideological opponent of government entitlement spending. She even went so far as to suggest she would vote to repeal our seniors' prescription drug benefits because they didn't fit within her radical agenda. Even more shockingly, she actually voted to repeal Medicare entirely.

Bachmann Opposed The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, Citing Costs. In August 2006, the Star Tribune wrote, "Bachmann opposed several of Bush's most notable legislative accomplishments, such as the No Child Left Behind education law (Bachmann sees it as a federal intrusion into local school matters) and the drug benefit for Medicare patients (Bachmann says Medicare can't afford it)." [Star Tribune, 08/23/06]

Bachmann Would Have Voted To Repeal Medicare Part D. In an August 2006 checklist of the candidates' positions on health care issues, the Star Tribune wrote of Bachmann, "Would have voted against the Medicare drug benefit because of its cost and would vote now to repeal it." [Star Tribune 08/24/06]

The Bachmann Family Clinic Reportedly Accepted Medicare Reimbursement. According to the blog dumpbachmann.blogspot.com in August 2007, Bachmann and Associates had an entry in Psychology Today's 'Find a Therapist' section that has since been removed. The blog characterizes the entry, "According to the Psychology today entry, they also take Medicare reimbursement and many other major health insurance plans, while not providing health insurance to their own employees." The blog notes that the Psychology Today entry had been removed as of March 17, 2008. [dumpbachmann.blogspot.com, 08/30/07]

Bachmann Voted To Abolish Medicare. In April 2009, Bachmann voted for an amendment to the federal budget that would have phased out Medicare. The Star Tribune described the amendment, "The plan, drafted by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, top Republican on the House Budget Committee, called for eventually replacing the traditional Medicare program with subsidies to help retirees enroll in private health care plans." Bachmann joined fellow Minnesota Representatives Kline and Paulsen in supporting the amendment that eventually failed on a 137-293 vote. [Vote #191, 111th Congress, 1st Session; Star Tribune, 04/03/09]

BACHMANN'S BUDGET HYPOCRISY

While Bachmann tries to hide her opposition to a safety net for our seniors behind concerns about 'runaway' government spending, she has repeatedly voted against the very budgeting measure used to control that spending during the Clinton Administration.

Bachmann Voted Against Updating Medicare Physician Fee Schedules And Reinstating PAYGO. In November 2009, Bachmann voted against a bill to restructure the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate payment system and reinstate the statutory Pay-As-You-Go budget rule. She was joined in her 'no' vote on HR 3961 by Representatives Kline, Paulsen, and Peterson of Minnesota. The bill passed the House 243-183. [Vote #909, 111th Congress, 1st Session]

Bachmann Voted Against The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act Of 2009. In July 2009, Bachmann joined fellow Minnesotans John Kline and Erik Paulsen in opposing HR 2920: Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009. The bill passed the House on a 265-166, mostly party-line vote. [Vote #612, 111th Congress, 1st Session]

Bachmann Voted Against Pay-As-You-Go Legislation In February Of 2010. In February 2010, Bachmann voted against HJRes 45, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act. She joined 186 other members of the House in voting against the bill that ultimately passed on a 233-187 vote. [Roll Call Vote #48, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]