WASHINGTON (AP) — The architect of the House Republican plan for overhauling Medicare says presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's critical description of the proposal was deeply inaccurate and a gross mischaracterization.
Last week Gingrich called Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare proposal "right-wing social engineering." Gingrich took his words back a few days later after he was criticized by conservatives. Gingrich also called Ryan to apologize.
Ryan, R-Wis., played down the flap when asked about it on NBC's "Meet the Press" and played up his proposal. It essentially calls for a voucher system to help older people buy insurance in the future.
Many Democrats have rejected the proposal, and some Republicans have been wary of endorsing it.
Ryan says it's time to move beyond the Gingrich comments and focus on dealing with the nation's fiscal problems.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.