Sen. Brown, Warren split on Medicare spending cuts

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- One point of contention during the third Massachusetts Senate debate focused on cuts to Medicare spending.

Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown said that the federal 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," cuts three quarters of a trillion dollars from Medicare.

Brown said it's hard to think that that amount of money could be cut without effecting benefits.

Democrat Elizabeth Warren, however, said that AARP has said the changes under the 2010 law will strengthen Medicare without cutting benefits "by even one penny."

The law signed by President Obama cuts Medicare spending by more than $700 billion over a decade -- but the spending cuts are for hospitals and providers.

The cuts are intended to help provide health insurance to more working-age Americans, but Republicans say they could still result in a reduction in benefits.