Paul Ryan - Leadership Needed to Save Medicare; Lift Debt Burden; Grow Economy

http://budget.house.gov Earlier this morning on Meet the Press, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan demanded policymakers get serious about our nation's most pressing problems. Appearing on the program from his home state of Wisconsin, Ryan pushed back against those playing politics with the health security of America's seniors and offering empty promises to future generations. Ryan called out those who take issue with the House Republicans' proposed solution with no alternative: "I have no problems with somebody who is offering alternative solutions. I have problems with people who aren't offering any solutions and are just playing politics." Ryan clarified the real choice on Medicare: "Let's be clear about what we're proposing here -- this is as sensible and gradual as it gets. We're saying no changes for Medicare for people at or above the age of 55. In order to keep the promise to current seniors who have already retired and organized their lives around this program, you have to reform it for the next generation. The way in which we propose to reform it for the next generation -- in keeping with Bill Clinton's bipartisan commission to reform Medicare -- is an idea that's been around for a long time called premium support: guaranteed coverage options for Medicare, where the government subsidizes the poor and the sick a whole lot more than the wealthy, and people get to choose. We're saying: do not affect current seniors, give future seniors the ability to deny business to inefficient providers. By contrast, the President's plan is to give government the power to deny care to seniors by empowering a panel of 15 unelected bureaucrats to put price controls and rationing in place for current seniors."