Ryan defends Medicare overhaul, argues that GOP plan would grow economy

“We can’t achieve this goal by simply rubber-stamping increases in the national debt limit without reducing spending in Washington,” Ryan said. “For every dollar the president wants to raise the debt ceiling, we can show him plenty of ways to cut far more than a dollar’s worth of spending. Given the magnitude of our debt burden, the size of the spending cuts should exceed the size of the president’s call for a debt-limit increase.”

Democrats and their allies, meanwhile, continued their criticism of Ryan’s proposal. For both parties, the stakes are high as leaders fight to define a debate that will shape Obama’s reelection bid as well as next year’s battle for control of the House and Senate.

Personal Post

(Joshua Roberts/BLOOMBERG) - Facing a backlash from voters over his proposal to overhaul Medicare, Rep. Paul Ryan, shown here in April, is defending his proposal as a way to grow the economy.

Video

In an interview on "Face the Nation," House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Medicare entitlements must be reformed to avoid benefit cuts to retirees. (May 13)

More on this Story

• Report: Medicare fund will be depleted in 13 years
• Paul Ryan defends Medicare proposal
• Partisan fights stall health-care panel
• More at PostPolitics

“We all agree that we must put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path, which is why we continue to make progress on a bipartisan framework to reduce our deficits by trillions of dollars,” White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said. “But we must seek a balanced approach that protects our seniors and middle-class families, and does not do anything to impede economic growth.  That being said, failing to live up to our obligations and defaulting on our debt would have catastrophic economic consequences for America and the world.”

 Just before Ryan spoke, the office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) e-mailed reporters: “Today’s stop on the GOP ‘damage control and do-over’ message tour: CHICAGO.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a campaign Monday to target vulnerable House Republicans who endorsed Ryan’s plan, calling voters in their districts to say that their representative “voted to end Medicare.”

As guests arrived at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago to attend Ryan’s address, a few dozen protesters greeted them, chanting “Tax the rich” and carrying signs that read, “Hands off my Medicare” and “Paul Ryan plan: Let them eat cat food.”

Meanwhile, Pelosi said Monday on CNBC that changes to Medicare are “on the table,” a statement Republican operatives seized on to suggest that Democrats are open to Ryan’s plan.

“I think Medicare’s on the table,” Pelosi said in the television interview. “We have to put it all on the table, see what works.”

Later Monday, Pelosi said on Bloomberg News that Ryan’s Medicare plan is off the table.

“Let me be very clear . . . one suggestion we are not open to is the abolishment of Medicare, and that is what the Republicans have put forth in their budget and we do not support that.” 

Even within GOP ranks, there is dissent over Ryan’s proposal. On Sunday, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a GOP presidential candidate, likened it to “right-wing social engineering.”

“I don’t think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering,” Gingrich said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I don’t think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate.”

Ryan shot back Monday on a conservative radio program: “With allies like that, who needs the left?”