Congressman Renacci Raises The Level of His Game

We thought it would be proper to point out that Congressman Jim Renacci (R) appears to be raising the level of his game. Then again, when you set the bar of performance and truthfulness so low that it lays on the ground, clearing it takes very little effort.

During his first town hall (Walsh University/Jan. 10) since joining Congress, Renacci responded to a member of the audience with this line as justification for voting to repeal the health care law:

"I agree with you, there are some good things, but there are also a half a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare that are going to go in place."

I don't think you actually needed to do any research to recognize that this statement seemed a little ridiculous. Common sense would tell you that this doesn't seem right. Fortunately PolitiFact, a Pulitzer Prize winning website, fact-checked this claim and found it to be Barely True.

Here is a part of PolitiFact's assessment of Renacci's claim, which is often repeated by other Republicans:

That statement had a familiar ring to it. We decided it was one worth another look.

Renacci’s exchange with his constituent hit on the same themes as the health care debate in 2010. And more than once during the election season we looked at the claims from Republicans and groups that opposed the reforms that the health care package would cut $500 billion from Medicare.

But it’s important to note that the law does not take $500 billion out of the current Medicare budget, as Renacci and the bill’s foes make it sound. Rather, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act slows the program’s projected growth in Medicare spending by about $500 billion over 10 years.

That’s a big difference.

Medicare spending will still increase. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated it will reach $929 billion in 2020, up from $499 billion in actual spending in 2009. (Link)

So what Renacci is doing is taking a number that does actually exist ($500,000) but completely misrepresents what it means. Instead of using the words "slowing projected growth," he decides to throw in the buzz word "cuts." This completely changes the meaning of what the bill will do with Medicare.

So the question remains. Is Renacci ignorant, or deceitful? I suppose only Renacci and the political people closest to him know whether this misrepresentation is born of a lack of knowledge, or a lack of scruples.

On a positive note, a statement that at least brushes past the truth is better than what he has done before, as noted by both PolitiFact and fact-checking we did of Renacci's debate performance in September 2010.