Rep. Blackburn says government shutdown a ‘good thing’ to get benefit cuts

After decades of paying into Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, these services have provided millions of Tennesseans with security in bad times and dignity in old age. Regardless of these programs successful track record, Republicans are chomping at the bit to cut these essential services and balance our nation’s budget on the backs of our nation’s most vulnerable families.

On Monday, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) went on television to say Republicans are evening willing to shutdown the government if it’ll help them make deeper cuts to our earned benefits.

Deep cuts to these services could have huge ramifications in Tennessee — endangering security for retirees, hampering our state economy, and limiting access to affordable health care for working families, the elderly and the disabled.

• In Tennessee, 1.1 million people are enrolled in Medicare, the vast majority being senior citizens and retired persons.
• The AARP estimates that one out of five Tennesseans receive Social Security benefits, pumping more than $12 billion into our state economy.
• Currently, there are 1.2 million Tennesseans enrolled in TennCare.

More at: http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2013/marsha-blackburn-says-federal-government-shutdown-on-the-table/