U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor criticized the Republican 2012 budget proposal today that would destroy Medicare and replace it with a voucher system for private insurance companies that would reduce benefits and shift costs to seniors and their families.

Castor made her remarks this morning at the Phyllis Busansky Senior Center in Tampa, just a few days before Republicans in Congress are expected to call for a vote on ending Medicare as part of the fiscal year 2012 budget.

“While both Democrats and Republicans have plans to tackle the growing debt, there are great differences in how to do so,” Castor said. “The Republicans want to end Medicare as we know it and put nearly the entire burden of reducing the deficit on our older neighbors, students and hard-working families. Instead of ending Medicare, we should close the enormous tax loopholes and special interest earmarks. The proposal offered by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan will raise the cost of nursing home care for millions of families, significantly reduce the quality of nursing home care and slash support to help people with disabilities live independent, productive lives.”

Castor said Ryan’s budget proposal would put seniors at the mercy of private insurance companies, cut Medicare benefits and increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

“The Republican budget protects corporate tax subsidies and loopholes, especially for big oil companies,” Castor said. “It includes tax breaks for millionaires.”

For many decades Medicare has provided our older neighbors with dignity and financial security in their retirement years. Under the Republican plan, many seniors will not have access to the quality, affordable health care they need as they grow older. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has found that seniors on Medicare would be less likely to buy comprehensive health coverage if Medicare were privatized because the cost of the private insurance would be significantly higher than the amount of the voucher.

“The Republican budget does not have the best interest of Floridians and our older neighbors at the forefront,” Castor said. “Instead, it undermines that pillar of retirement security that keeps older Americans and their families out of poverty.”

Castor spoke on the House floor last week regarding this issue.