Ryan Says Politics Prevents ‘Grand Slam’ Agreement on Reducing U.S. Debt

[SecularMotion]

Source: Bloomberg

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan said he doesn’t expect a “grand slam” deficit-cutting agreement that addresses the main drivers of the long-term debt, mainly Medicare, before Congress votes on raising the debt limit.

Any agreement should focus on discretionary spending cuts, reductions in programs such as farm aid, and some form of budget process overhaul without revenue increases, the Wisconsin Republican said at a Bloomberg Breakfast in Washington yesterday.

“I’m hoping the debt limit is an opportunity to get a down payment on some spending cuts, to get a down payment on some spending reform,” Ryan said.

Last month he proposed a plan to privatize Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly, as part of his 2012 budget blueprint. The proposal, passed by the House, has become a flash point for Democrats who say Republicans are trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor and elderly.

Read more: http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/ryan-says-congress-unlikely-to-get-grand-slam-debt-agreement.html

[Warren Stupidity]

1. the politics of 'leave our miserable ss pension and medicare alone'?

That politics?

[Zenlitened]

2. Interesting to see Bloomberg news state it it so plainly:

Last month he (Ryan) proposed a plan to privatize Medicare...

FACT noted: Republicans want to privatize Medicare.

[JDPriestly]

3. Ryan is really saying, "This would just be so easy if we didn't have

to consider the needs, wants and opinions of the voters."

His next thought is, "If only the Koch brothers and I ruled the world, wouldn't it be wonderful?"

Ryan is a very self-absorbed man. I feel sorry for his wife. Probably a horrible husband. (Though she would never admit it.)

[Jimbo S]

4. A different article covering the same breakfast

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54272.html#ixzz1LOewPd33


Ryan, who wrote the Republican deficit reduction package that dramatically cuts spending and overhauls Medicare, blamed the partisan atmosphere and dimming prospects for a major deal on the White House.

“They are thinking about creating a narrative, which is: ‘If you want security in your life, stick with us. If you don’t want Republicans, they are going to feed you to the wolves in a dog-eat-dog society’,” Ryan said.

***

No shit, Sherlock.

[groundloop]

5. Medicare the main driver of long term debt - oh really ?????

I think he left out unfunded wars, corporate tax cuts, corporate welfare, and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

I also notice Ryan forget the Publicans pet line, calling Medicare and Social Security "entitlements".

These right wing idiots fail to see how easy it would be to have Medicare pay for itself forever. They could of course make a modest increase in the Medicare tax, maybe just affecting those of us who are fortunate enough to make over $80 K or some such cutoff. And then they could open up Medicare to anyone who wanted to buy in, just charge a fair price such that Medicare is making a small profit on anyone who is under 60.