Ryan: GOP Will Address Medicare, Medicaid

Democrats and Republicans generally have been reluctant so far to propose reform of entitlements, which all experts agree is needed to significantly reduce the budget deficit and government debt. But House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., says that will soon change on the GOP side, Politico reports.

He promises the House will pass a budget with substantial spending cutbacks for Medicare and Medicaid, though not necessarily for Social Security. President Barack Obama erred in not addressing entitlements in his fiscal 2012 budget, Ryan says.

“Where he has failed on these critical issues, especially the health care entitlements, we plan to step in the breach and provide that kind of leadership by showing the country how we would do things different,” Ryan told Politico.