Ossoff can’t name specifics about his own plan …
Similar to the time Ossoff was asked about small business tax rates and he didn’t know the answer, recently he was unable to discuss the specifics of his own plan to cut spending.
In an interview with WABE’s Denis O’Hayer, Ossoff was asked if he would support cutting Medicaid “demonstrative” spending projects which were identified by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as potential wasteful spending.
O’HAYER: “Would you favor cutting the funding for some of those demonstration programs, even if it meant cutting the overall Medicaid budget?”
Ossoff responded that he wasn’t familiar with the study.
OSSOFF: “Well I haven’t seen that specific study, but the GAO, the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office, both identify huge amounts of waste, duplicative spending, improper payments, throughout the federal budget every year.”
There’s a big problem with that response. Ossoff’s specific plan to cut $16 billion in federal spending specifically includes reforming “demonstrative spending” at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He even held a press conference touting the plan…
Turns out that the carefully scripted candidate doesn’t know what’s even in his own “plan to hold Washington accountable.” Ossoff will do or say anything to get elected.
BACKGROUND:
DENIS O’HAYER: “Part of that is something you’ve talked about, which is cutting wasteful spending. And staying on healthcare for a moment, let’s talk about Medicaid. There was a Government Accountability Office audit, that found that billions were spent on Medicaid demonstration projects. In other words, getting the word out about Medicaid to people who might get covered, when people already have plenty of ways to learn about it. The GAO called for a ‘real close’ look at the Medicaid spending. Would you favor cutting the funding for some of those demonstration programs, even if it meant cutting the overall Medicaid budget?”
JON OSSOFF: “Well I haven’t seen that specific study, but the GAO, the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office, both identify huge amounts of waste, duplicative spending, improper payments, throughout the federal budget every year. And Congress doesn’t take action to address it, because career politicians in Washington don’t have any incentive to do anything about it. That’s why I’ve outlined nearly $600 billion dollars, over the next ten years, in cuts that I think we can find based on those nonpartisan assessments, so that we can make tough choices to set the right priorities: research and development, higher education, deficit reduction, national security.” (Jon Ossoff, Interview With WABE’s “Morning Edition,” 5/17/17) Minute 12:04 – 13:15