Deceptive & Illegal?

Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D, Colorado) sent a franked mailer to his District 7 constituents last week.

The cover reads: Important Facts on the Proposal to Eliminate Medicare. In just the title, deception is clear; there is no credible proposal to eliminate Medicare. And further deceptions permeate the flyer.

Inside, the heading reads: Ed Perlmutter: "I'll Fight to Save Medicare and Protect Seniors," and the text begins:

Dear Neighbor,
The Republican majority in Congress is proposing to end Medicare as we know it and balance the federal budget by shifting the burden to seniors. I promise to fight this effort. 

There is no Republican majority in Congress; the Democrats hold the majority in the Senate; Republicans hold only the House. And, precisely how are Republicans balancing the budget by burdening seniors? He doesn't say.

A key, real fact not mentioned in Perlmutter's flyer is that if nothing is done, Medicare will end itself, as it will run out of money. It will actually grow to dominate the entire Federal budget.

He also plays the "tax cut" game, writing:

While we must make budget cuts, I refuse to make seniors pay so that millionaires and billionaires can get tax breaks.

What Republicans have proposed as a means of saving Medicare (which must be done) will not affect any current seniors. None.

We are in the midst of an economic recovery that is not happening anywhere fast enough -- the last thing that employers need if they are to grow their workforce is more taxes.

The Congressman needs to refund the cost of this political flyer to the Government as it is clearer and solely a campaign document. And, he need to acquaint himself with the facts.