Maine Gov. Paul LePage is calling for the federal government to return $800 billion he claims it "stole" to make Obamacare work.
LePage was asked about President Donald Trump's budget proposals that reportedly will not cut either Social Security or Medicare.
"I'm a little concerned that they are not going to touch Medicare," the Republican governor told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program on Monday. "I think what they should be doing with Medicare is return the $800 billion that they stole to put into Obamacare. And I really do believe it was stealing from the American people."
LePage noted Americans have been paying into Medicare with payroll taxes. He maintains former President Barack Obama "went into and took $800 billion out to make his program work and I just don't think that's appropriate. I think they should at least return the money.
The Portland Press Herald reported LePage's claims are similar to former Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, who say $700 billion was stolen from the program.
But, the newspaper said, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank on the federal budget, said the enactment of Obamacare did not reduce the amount of money going to pay for Medicare, but reduced the amount Medicare spends.
Meanwhile, LePage said Congress should "repeal and replace" Obamacare. States should be given block grants to design their own health care programs for people with low incomes, he said.
"Get rid of it," LePage said. "One size does not fit all. Every state has their unique dynamics."
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