Boehner 'Not Wedded' to Ryan Medicare Plan

House Speaker John Boehner gave a qualified thumbs up this week to the Medicare reform plan written by his budget committee chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, the Washington Wire blog of The Wall Street Journal reports.

“I’m for it. It’s our idea,” Boehner told ABC News.

John Boehner

“It’s Paul [Ryan’s] idea. Now other people have other ideas. I’m not wedded to one single idea,” Boehner added.

The Medicare restructuring, contained in the 2012 budget proposal approved by the House, is bringing irate seniors out to some Republican lawmakers’ constituent meetings this week.

Democrats are running attack ads in several of those districts, and opponents of the bill are using town halls to try to put House Republicans on the defensive.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is contemplating a vote on the House budget bill. A vote could force Senate Republicans to take a position on Medicare overhaul even as the bill is likely to fail in the Democratic-controlled chamber.