As the crowd chanted, "Medicare!" over and over, newly-elected Congresswoman Democrat Kathy Hochul used her victory speech to reiterate the commitment she made through the special election campaign to fight changes to Medicare proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan and adopted by House Republicans.
Her victory was a huge upset in a Republican district, and the race was not even on anyone's radar screen until Ryan's Medicare plan became an issue. Politico reports:
“We had the issues on our side,” she told more than 200 supporters gathered at a UAW union hall in a Buffalo suburb. “Did we not have the right issues on our side?” ...
Hochul thanked Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and three Empire State House members. She also credited the labor community, EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood for helping her win election. And she thanked longtime Democratic Rep. John LaFalce for being a mentor.
She should have thanked Paul Ryan.
Cross posted at The Paul Ryan Watch.