Amodei Medicare fact contradicted

Three-term State Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, on Thursday chided Washington lawmakers for failing to grasp the facts on health reform legislation.

But an entry about Medicare on the Web site www.factcheck.org contradicts one of Amodei's facts.

During his speech to Boulder City Republican Women Amodei paraphrased former President Ronald Reagan's use of a quote by former President and political philosopher John Adams who said, "facts are stubborn things," to illustrate his criticism of health care legislation from the House and Senate.

"Legislation at its core is about getting the policy right," Amodei said. "Facts are your friend."

He also said under pending health reform legislation, "for those of you that care about Medicare don't worry about that, that's kind of going away. Those are facts."

However, the Web site www.factcheck.org, says it is "outright false," to say health legislation on the table will slash seniors' Medicare benefits.

"The claim that (President Barack) Obama and Congress are cutting seniors’ Medicare benefits to pay for the health care overhaul is outright false, though that doesn’t keep it from being repeated ad infinitum," the site states.

The entry headlined "Seven falsehoods about health care," also lists as myths the common statements, "families will save $2,500," and, "illegal immigrants will be covered."

The post was written in August and the legislation has changed since then and could change further as House and Senate versions are merged.