Wheeling Inteligencer News Register

McKinley: GOP Did Not Slash Medicare

WHEELING - Rep. David McKinley denies House Republicans recently passed legislation to cut Medicare and Social Security spending.

McKinley, R-W.Va., fielded questions from the public Tuesday night during a town hall meeting at St. Johns Evangelical Protestant Church in Center Wheeling. And the last of the questions began, "Why did Republicans slash Medicare and Social Security benefits?"

"Stop there," McKinley said. "No we didn't. That's just a story that is out there."

He recounted the story of a constituent in a wheelchair visiting his Washington office after passage of House Bill 2560, the "Cut and Balance Act."

The visitor began to scold him for supporting the legislation that "cut her Medicare - cut her Social Security."

"What are you talking about?" McKinley said he asked the woman. "Where did you hear that?"

The woman continued to press him about why Congress was cutting her Medicare and Social Security.

McKinley said he pulled out of his desk a copy of the bill, and showed her the passage where it stated the bill contained a $35 billion cut "to non-veterans, non-Medicare, non-Social Security mandatory spending." Although it passed the House by a vote of 234-190, the measure was tabled in the Senate by a vote of 51-46.

"I brought the bill out because I'm a co-sponsor and I know what's in my bill - I read my bill," McKinley said. "In this legislation we specifically exempted that from the cuts because we care for the elderly and we don't want to cut those things."

The woman apologized, explaining that was "what I was told downstairs."

"Some people just want to have a fight with somebody, and stir things up," McKinley said. "Stay with the facts. We're not going to destroy Social Security. We're going to strengthen Social Security and strengthen the Medicare program.

"I'm 64, and I'm going to be on Medicare before long. I'm not on the federal program. I didn't sign up for that. I don't want to be on a program that you don't have," he said.

Members of the public submitted their questions to McKinley's staff prior to the meeting. Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie read off the questions, and said about 30 had been submitted for reading during the town hall - which was to only last an hour. McKinley's staff promised to get back with any residents whose questions were not addressed during the town hall.

The first question noted how much of the federal revenue is directed toward debt service, and asked when America would be able to eliminate its debt. McKinley said earlier in the meeting the federal government borrows $4 billion each day to pay its debt, and that is roughly the annual budget for the state of West Virginia.

Gubernatorial Debate in Wheeling; Three Leading Candidates Set to ...

WHEELING - West Virginia's three leading gubernatorial candidates - Republican Bill Maloney, Mountain Party candidate Bob Henry Baber and Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin - will debate Sept. 7 in Wheeling.

The event, set to begin at 7 p.m., will take place at West Virginia Northern Community College's B&O Auditorium located at 1704 Market St. in downtown Wheeling.

The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register are co-sponsoring the debate with West Virginia Northern. It is open to the public.

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Oct. 4, to choose the state's next governor.

The West Virginia Supreme Court ordered the special election after voters last year elected former Gov. Joe Manchin to fill the seat left vacant after the death of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Tomblin, as state Senate president, currently holds the title of acting governor in West Virginia.

Maloney emerged from the Republican primary in May after defeating seven other candidates while Tomblin defeated five others to win the Democrat nomination. The Mountain Party nominated Baber during a party convention in May.

The winner of the general election will fill Manchin's unexpired term, which ends on Jan. 3, 2013.

J. Michael Myer, executive editor of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, will moderate the event.

"We're extremely pleased the three leading candidates for governor have agreed to participate in our debate, because we think it is vitally important for area voters to see and hear them, all together, discussing issues of vital importance to our state," Myer said. "West Virginia has overcome many challenges, but faces many more during the next few years, and it is critical voters get involved to select a governor capable of providing the leadership we need and want.

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