Republicans Battle Over Medicare, Social Security Changes

War has broken out among Republican lawmakers over the future of Medicare, Social Security and other government entitlement programs, The Washington Post reports.

Some want drastic changes, others don't and Republicans fear the bickering could turn into a GOP civil war as the 2016 election gets closer, according to the newspaper.

One example is newly-anointed House Speaker Paul D. Ryan's declaration that he wants a "bold alternative agenda" with major revisions in the programs. But Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is dead set against significant changes in Medicare.

"This is the biggest fault line in the party: whether Republicans should be talking about reducing benefits," conservative economist Stephen Moore told The Post.

"Republicans have fallen on their sword for 30 years trying to reform Social Security and Medicare, but the dream lives on — and it makes everyone nervous. Some see a political trap; others see it as necessary."

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