Claims of Medicare Cuts for EV Tax Credits Debunked
Republicans are alleging that Democratic senators voted to slash Medicare funding to finance electric vehicle tax credits. These assertions are based on misleading interpretations of the Inflation Reduction Act.
These claims have surfaced in key battleground states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and Montana, where Senate races could sway control of Congress.
The Inflation Reduction Act, which passed both the House and Senate in 2022 without any Republican support, aims to reduce the federal deficit, promote clean energy, and lower prescription drug costs. A crucial part of the bill allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for its recipients.
Wisconsin: Misleading Ads Target Sen. Tammy Baldwin
In Wisconsin, a television advertisement by Restoration PAC accuses incumbent Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of voting to “use Medicare money for electric vehicle subsidies instead of seniors.” Restoration PAC is a far-right organization founded by conservative billionaire Richard Uihlein.
The ad distorts the funding mechanisms of the Inflation Reduction Act. By enabling Medicare to negotiate drug prices, the government reduces healthcare administrative costs, thereby freeing up funds for tax credits. Additional funding comes from new taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.
Fact-checkers from CNN, Washington Post, FactCheck.org, and AARP have all confirmed that the Act does not cut funding for Medicare or Social Security.
Ohio: Bernie Moreno’s False Claims
Bernie Moreno, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Ohio, leveled similar accusations against incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown during an Aug. 9 interview with Fox News.
“They have absolutely gutted Medicare to pay for these EV mandates,” Moreno stated. “They want solar panels on prime farmland. They are completely out of step with Midwest values. And again, Sherrod Brown can run and try to hide from it, but the reality is, Ohio knows that he is absolutely not in sync with what our voters want.”
Moreno also falsely claimed that Brown voted to extend Social Security and Medicare benefits to undocumented immigrants. Federal law explicitly forbids undocumented individuals from accessing these benefits.
A spokesperson for Moreno did not respond to a request for comment.
Montana: Tim Sheehy’s Contradictory Stance
In Montana, an ad by Republican candidate Tim Sheehy, in collaboration with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, echoes the debunked claim against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. The ad claims Tester supported “spending Medicare on electric vehicles instead of helping seniors.”
This assertion is not only false but also contradictory given Sheehy’s expressed support for privatizing healthcare. In August 2023, Semafor reported that Sheehy advocated for returning “healthcare to pure privatization,” which would eliminate Medicare and Medicaid. Sheehy has also been endorsed by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group supporting cuts to Social Security.
According to the White House, 3.4 million Americans have benefited from the green energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and other Medicare beneficiaries are expected to benefit from the prescription drug cost provisions in the bill.
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