Jolly’s Radical Repeal of ACA would bring back Medicare Donut Hole, Make Seniors Pay More 

Tallahassee, FL – Today, 4 boxes of donut holes were delivered to Washington lobbyist David Jolly’s campaign headquarters, highlighting Lobbyist Jolly’s support for a radical repeal of the Affordable Care Act which would make Pinellas seniors pay more by re-opening the Medicare prescription drug donut hole – eliminating $186 million in savings for 226,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida.

Lobbyist Jolly also lobbied for an extreme group that supports privatizing Social Security, and even praised the Ryan Budget that turns Medicare into a costly voucher program – balancing the budget on the backs of Pinellas seniors while protecting unfair tax breaks for corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

A photo of the donut delivery is below.

“Washington Lobbyist David Jolly’s support for radical repeal of the Affordable Care Act would take seniors back to the days of the Medicare donut hole – forcing seniors  to pay more for their medicine,” said Florida Democratic Party Vice Chair Alison Morano. “Lobbyist Jolly has already made it clear that he wants to balance our budget on the backs of Pinellas seniors by lobbying for an extreme group that supports privatizing Social Security and praising the Ryan Budget that turns Medicare into a costly voucher program. But these donut holes are an important reminder that Pinellas seniors just can’t trust Washington lobbyist David Jolly – after all, what Washington lobbyist can resist a sweet deal?”

BACKGROUND:

Jolly’s Plan Would Re-Open Medicare Prescription-Drug Doughnut Hole. In 2013, Jolly said he would vote to federal healthcare reform “as soon as possible.” The Wall Street Journal reported: “There’s a Medicare prescription-drug coverage abyss that is playfully referred to as the ‘doughnut hole,’ though there is nothing sweet or amusing about it. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which had a rocky launch last week, Medicare beneficiaries will see that gap shrink again in 2013 and each year until 2020.” [Tampa Bay Times, 12/09/13; Wall Street Journal, 10/06/13] 

Jolly’s Plan Would Eliminate Savings for Over 226,000 Medicare Beneficiaries in Florida Who Saved $186 Million on Prescription Drug Costs in 2013.  The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare services estimated that 226,484 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida saved $186,824,869 on prescription drug costs, an average discount of $825 per beneficiary, in the first 10 months of 2013. [CMS Press Release, 11/26/13; CMS 2013 Prescription Drug Savings]

Tampa Bay Times: Jolly Lobbied for “a Group that Wants to Privatize Social Security.” In 2013, a Tampa Bay Times columnist wrote: “Jolly had registered as a lobbyist for…a group that wants to privatize Social Security.” The Tampa Bay Times previously reported: “A 2009 lobbying disclosure report indicates David Jolly worked on Social Security reform on behalf of a conservative interest whose CEO expressed support for privatizing accounts.” [Tampa Bay Times Columnist, 1/23/14; Tampa Bay Times,1/22/14]

Jolly Said There was “A Lot of Good” in a Budget that Would Turn Medicare into a Costly Voucher Program. In 2013,  Jolly said, “I think there was a lot of good in the Ryan budget.” In 2012 the Tampa Bay Times editorialized: “Their plan would eventually raise Medicare’s eligibility age from 65 to 67. It would transform the safety net into a premium-support voucher program.”  In 2011, the CBO estimated that Ryan’s budget proposal would raise costs for Medicare beneficiaries by $6,400 annually. [Bay News 9 Political Connections, 12/08/13; USA Today, 10/03/11; Tampa Bay Times Editorial, 3/30/12]