Mitch McConnell Avoids Endorsing Medicare Changes In Paul Ryan's Budget Plan (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- Although Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he will vote for Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) controversial budget plan, he's not out whipping other members to join him and he's not even saying whether he supports all of its provisions.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring Ryan's plan -- which would substantially alter Medicare benefits -- to the floor next week, forcing Republicans to take a position on the measure. McConnell, for his part, plans to force a vote on the budget that President Obama submitted in February.

"What I've said to our members is we're not going to be able to coalesce behind just one [plan]," McConnell said in an interview with Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." He pointed out that both Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have budget plans of their own that some members of Congress may want to support.

"Candidly, Chris, none of these budgets are going to become law," McConnell admitted.

GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich stirred up controversy last week when he appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and criticized the Medicare proposals in Ryan's budget. Gingrich said he would prefer a system that preserved the current Medicare program and also created a private alternative.

"I don't think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering," Gingrich said. "I think we need a national conversation to get to a better Medicare solution for seniors."

Gingrich was quickly attacked by fellow Republicans, who worried his criticism would be used by Democrats against any GOP lawmaker who voiced support for the Ryan plan.

Although McConnell said he will vote for the Ryan plan, his support for its Medicare changes was tepid.

When Wallace asked McConnell if he supports "turning Medicare from a fee-for-service plan to a voucher plan," the senator replied, "Paul Ryan would say it's not a voucher plan, it's a premium support plan." When asked what the difference is, McConnell simply replied, "He says it is different."

When asked directly whether he supports the Medicare changes, McConnell instead threw his support behind the bipartisan deficit-reduction talks being led by Vice President Biden:

What I'm willing to say is we're going to have to change Medicare, and it's going to happen soon. It's going to happen in connection with the talks going on with the Vice President that are happening right now, and it's going to happen in connection with raising the debt ceiling, which the President has asked us to do.

And all of these budgets are interesting to discuss and debate, but none of them are going to pass. What is going to pass at some point, is something, Chris, related to Medicare and Medicaid, in connection with raising the debt ceiling this summer.

The third round of debt ceiling discussions will resume this week.

WATCH:

On NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Ryan said he would be willing to negotiate on the Medicare proposal in his plan, since it is unlikely to pass the Senate.

This story was updated with Ryan's "Meet the Press" remarks.

Comments

[girlfeia]

07:12 AM on 05/24/2011

what I do not understand ~ why would you do away or cut back on medicare .it should be a top of the line the way the goverment spends. The co pay is 3300.00 per year thats alot on a fix budget , on the other hand the US will cut medicare and send 2 billon dollars to other countries STOP helping someone that gives NOTHING to us. Help us ~ the working pople of the united states. The cuts need to come from inside of the wasted goverment spending. thats the ones sitting behind the desk that doesnt need to be thier

[lw1]

11:10 PM on 05/23/2011

The Koch-publican'ts have a new plan for medicare recipients - they are calling it Soylent Green

[runswithscissors]

06:18 PM on 05/23/2011

If Ryan ever gets sick, I volunteer to write the letter denying his coverage.

[rccthatsme]

04:38 PM on 05/23/2011

both of the major parties are fatally flawed. Who ever said only 2 sides/solns to a problem exitsted had to be in one of these parties! the DNC rolls out commerical about pushing granny off a cliff and vouchers, etc. Obama's plan will ration care by limited funds and basic benes.

Dividing along the party lines ia ll these 2 will do, other than Brown who is a one and done Senator.

The people need to take back DC before it is too late. The DNC panders to one set of Corp and the GOP to another both at the expense of the American people.

http://greatpowerpolitics.com/?p=2837

[lw1]

11:18 PM on 05/23/2011

interesting - i see it says: "The cumulative present value trends steadily downward over the projection period due to the anticipated shortfall of tax revenues,"

Now let's see, who was it that cut taxes cause it was gonna be so good for everyone?

[rccthatsme]

11:09 PM on 05/25/2011

It was ... ready OBAMA who maintained the tax rates. Talk to him. That siad, it does NOT MATTER. forget right, left, DNC, GOP, it does NOT matter. This is basic, simple math. The current program is in deficit spending and NO amount of spending will save it. It MUST be revamped. Obama has a plan and Ryan has a plan. The DNC simplts has better media coverage and campaigns. I am not saying one is beter than the other because I know this, NEITHER will win out. It will be some compromise

Watch this video. It is Chris Mathews, a noted liberal, spekaing to Paul Ryan, a noted conservative. BOTH AGREE.. Medicare is defunct in its current form.

Obama reduces the spend and the increase over time. This will mean rationing (thus the death panels) or more patient pays. Ryan says HERE this is what we can pay and wants the private sector to step in to offset the patient pays via competition.

Taxes...this not the purse-o-copia. The money WILL, and IS, running out.

Pick your reform poison, but reform is coming. My point is that both parties led us here and both are disingenuous in statement. Throw them all out!

[rccthatsme]

11:12 PM on 05/25/2011

oppps, I forgot to link the interview. Take 8 minutes and watch. It is rare that you see Chris Mathews, a conservative hater, speaking so graciously and openly to a conservative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpt83xV-b08

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:55 PM on 05/23/2011

You know its kind of funny how Newt criticized the Ryan plan as "right wing social engineering" but then proposed "a private alternative" to Medicare, as if "a private alternative" means anything except eventual "privatization" which is, by definition, right-wing social engineering.

[liberalOrgonian]

03:53 PM on 05/23/2011

How can we possibly call ourself "the greatest nation in the world,"
when we want to do the Ryan to our elderly?
Shameful display of dis-concern.

[Martha Riddle]

02:53 AM on 05/24/2011

Death Panels....Why don't tbe Dems talk of them now? Well.....could it be they are on the same side? Corporations.

[Hayeksmyhomey]

01:30 PM on 05/24/2011

Right, because if we dont' support a gov't program for caring for everybody then we must categorically wish them ill.

Everything within the State. Nothing outside the State.

Right?

[pdxbuckeye]

07:54 PM on 05/24/2011

No, but since the private sector will not provide people enough income to provide for themselves in our chosen economic system the state must do certain things, particularly since the state in our case is "We the People" "of, for and by the people" and all that language many pro-business factions ignore.

Phrases like "to provide for the general welfare" are also routinely ignored.

It would be wonderful if everyone that worked earned a living wage job with enough income to provide for a reasonable retirement and the ability to afford medical expenses before and after retirement. The private sector however has shown no interest for structuring wages or benefits in such a manner, that being the case, yes the state must step in. In fact they jettison every such measure they can, advocate for the elimination of the minimum wage, pushed to get fixed benefit pension plans into 401Ks and strive to make our job market nothing more than a Temp workforce, mercenary for hire system where 10% of the labor pool is laid off rotuinely each and every year.

Given these facts the state, We the People, must pass policy to provide for "the general welfare".

All of this stuff you conservatives hate so much like medicare and medicaid came from the generation that saw the failure of unregulated capitalism and its most depraved state, the Great Depression. All you conservatives have been doing since the Reagan Revolution is trying to revert back to those disastrous times.

[liberalOrgonian]

03:48 PM on 05/23/2011

Ryan doesn't give a hoot about the health & life of our elderly.
"Life Liberty and prosecute of happiness", has become JUST TRY TO STAY ALIVE.
His goal is to give more tax cut to millionaires, while supporting tax cuts for big oil Co.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET!
Just another anti-life politician.
How many lives will be cut short with this callus idea?

[profitforless]

02:37 PM on 05/23/2011

GOP'ers will empower grandma. By throwing them out on the private market. Which will pull the plug if they can't afford coverage. Nice. Just another way of pulling the plug on grandma.

[drini]

03:52 PM on 05/23/2011

Have you seen the great new ad? Sonny boy rolls his grandma up to the edge of a cliff and tosses her out of her wheelchair into the abyss below without even a "fare thee well".

Effective, horrifying, and no words needed except "ryan Medicare plan".

[pattio66]

01:51 PM on 05/23/2011

Looks like some Repubs are smart enough to figure out the obvious - cut Medicare, lose the election. Ryan's young, dumb, and full of ..., he won't be re-elected once retired Wisconsin voters get the word out about him.

[janedorothy4]

02:13 PM on 05/23/2011

Then Obama will lose bnecause he cuts medicare in Obamacare the same Obamacare that gives waivers to his supporters and creates a panel of well paid government employees who will decide end of life care.Ryan knows how inefficient government is and wanted to save medicare for the people who will really need it.Unlike Obama Ryan put our country before his political ambitions.

[pattio66]

02:24 PM on 05/23/2011

Good job, you can read Fox's talking points!

[nia122]

03:04 PM on 05/23/2011

Wow... Are you still repeating the GOP talking points of the summer of 2010 which were all lies? Can't seem to get your facts straight, huh?

[cave mann35]

01:49 PM on 05/23/2011

Wow, when even the GOP leadership knows the Ryan budget is toxic, then Ryan and the rest of the GOP now know, you can't privatize medicare and still be a politician.

[drini]

03:54 PM on 05/23/2011

Did you see Ryan on MTP yesterday? He was claiming that it was great "leadership" that changes poll numbers.

But then Andrea Mitchell made a great point: It's hardly leadership if no one follows your ideas.

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:01 PM on 05/23/2011

If they want to get rid of Medicare, first they have to get rid of elections.

[drini]

04:08 PM on 05/23/2011

The ramming through of the Voter ID bills is estimated to disenfranchise over 20 Million Voters, primarily those who vote Democratic.

Why are they rushing it through so quickly? Did you see them disrespecting the oldest serving State Senator in WI last week? They cut him off in mid sentence like he wasn't even there.

[liberalOrgonian]

01:47 PM on 05/23/2011

Anyone willing to privatize Insurance in the way of "coupons for health care" will not win any political races ever again. The audacity of throwing the elderly into private Insurance will be the kiss of death for any politician. And after the R's repeal the Affordable Insurance act, Insurance Co will have the option to not insure or to cancel anyone they wish.
Ryan's plan is not to balance the budget, it is to give tax breaks to millionaires, and let the seniors fend for themselves. Ryan has dug his own grave and to hear him speak, he only has to "talk us into it". Ryan had to bring up the notorious "death panels", just to throw a little politics and fear into the mix. The entire subject leaves me nauseous.
Appalling and many R's know as much and are running away ASAP.

[shineOnBlueMoon]

02:45 PM on 05/23/2011

The day Ryan talks the fox-sheeple into his vouchers will be the end for non-billionaire seniors, no fear-mongering intended. And I'm afraid that day will come - maybe for me, maybe for my grandsons - but these greedy parasites will pay plenty and play dirty to win.

BTW, isn't liberalOrgonian an oxymoron (this coming from a Peoples' Republic of Boulder-ite :-).

[JSquercia]

03:53 PM on 05/23/2011

Yes Ryan would not tax any income earned from MONEY.It is not enought that they get to pay only 15%. He would let them pay ZERO.Then after a lifetime of paying ZERO they could leave ALL that money to their heirs as he would abolish the Inheritance Tax
If you want to see TRUE Death Panels look no further than Arizona where transpalnt patients on Medicaid who had been APPROVED for life saving Transpalnst were told Sorry you have to pay for your own transplant.

[liberalOrgonian]

04:00 PM on 05/23/2011

Yes, this is known as the:
Jan Brewer death panel.
I have been shocked to see this happen right in front of the world.
The pro-lifers have become the "let them die anti-life" gang.
Honestly Ryan has shown the country life has little to no importance.

[Chucktheman]

01:26 PM on 05/23/2011

Cut the Pentagon budget, military budget, subsidies to oil companies, regulate speculators, end the Bush era tax cuts and go back to Clinton era cuts. stimulate job growth and then worry about medicaid. Do these things first and see where we stand. The idea is not just cut , cut, cut, but to increase the money coming in. If you don't get some more money coming in, the cuts alone will make us a 3rd world nation. Where are the jobs that create more tax payers to share the burden Mr. McConnell? The rich pay very little in the way of taxes other than Federal. That is why they must pay more in Federal than the average citizen. The average joe pays alot more in every other kind of tax and spends a much higher percentage of his expendable income on taxes than does the wealthy man.

[sunchaser528]

01:57 PM on 05/23/2011

"Oh, but you DON'T UNDERSTAND that tax cuts CREATE jobs..." - a notion that no credible economist has ever supported. And yet Republicans persist in this utopian fantasy while the reality is that tax cuts will NEVER create enough jobs to pay for the cuts. Unemployment insurance has proven to be many times more stimulative than tax cuts because unemployed people HAVE to spend that money to survive. "But small businesses will hire people with their tax savings...", yeah right - never mind that the Republican definition of "small business" allows inclusion of companies like Bechtel, Price Waterhouse Coopers, and millionaire/billionaire S-corporations that hire no one.

[PS Nymn]

02:14 PM on 05/23/2011

No business will hire additional people until there is increased consumer demand for the product or service.

[shineOnBlueMoon]

03:00 PM on 05/23/2011

Sorry to be such a downer, BUT -

Have people heard about the forced labor scams in offshore faves such as the UAE and Abu Dhabi? They import foreign labor, say Philipino men, who are desperate for work to support their families back home. They are promised food, lodging, decent wages, etc for good work..

Once they are crowded into the hold of a ship, their passports are confiscated, and from then on they are virtually slaves, working 12-15 hours a day and wages so low they can never buy back their passprts. They are crammed into rooms so crowded most of them can only stand up.

So, I'm wondering what's to stop these greedycorporate pigs from doing the same thing in America? They can starve out the middle class and then import slave labor for pennies on the dollar...

Sometimes you just gotta think like a psychpath....

[p456]

01:18 PM on 05/23/2011

Voucher =Food stamp = We don't take vouchers = What Alan Grayson said about the GOP health care plan.

[sunchaser528]

01:17 PM on 05/23/2011

Men like Mitch McConnell are why there is no longer any respect for institutions like the U.S. Senate. It's populated largely with venal and cynical older white men who will say and do anything to stay in power. The only reason he is not coming out in support of this budget that Boehner forced the entire Republican House to support is that it has turned out to be such a colossally stupid thing to do that it's practically radioactive. Doesn't it tell you who these men (and some women) serve when they vote to do these things while every poll tells them that a huge majority of the American public, to the tune of 70%+, don't want them to touch Medicare much less eliminate it as it is currently structured. Admittedly, there are things about Medicare that could be tweaked, such as a possible means test, drug purchase negotiation, and elimination of fraud - but this is one of the most beneficial and efficient government programs in the history of this country. The only thing that could be better, in my opinion, is single payer universal health care.

[pattio66]

01:52 PM on 05/23/2011

fanned and faved, thanks sunchaser!

[SWEETSPOT]

01:10 PM on 05/23/2011

Its funny that the left media keeps harping on the cuts to medicare, never minding that Obamacare cuts cuts medicare also!

[Chucktheman]

01:30 PM on 05/23/2011

One plan shares the burden, the other directs it at the elderly.

[nia122]

01:31 PM on 05/23/2011

The Affordable Healthcare Act (not Obamacare) cuts the waste in the Medicare Advantage that was enacted by the Republicans (and was the beginning of privatizing Medicare). Ryan's plan is to give seniors a voucher to cover "private" health care that they would have to shop for, hope someone would cover them, and which would only cover a small portion of the real cost. I

I am sure that people in their 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's who most need health insurance, just can't wait to have to shop around for health insurance just be denied. And if they find one that doesn't deny them, then they will love having to come up with the extra cash they will need to afford it beyond the paultry voucher they will be given.

If these weren't so serious, this plan would be laughable.

[billhodges]

01:36 PM on 05/23/2011

So what is the alternative? Obamacare certainly will not be sustainable long term, even the current Medicare is hundreds of Billions of dollars in the red now. Imagine it when even more people are using that system.

[SWEETSPOT]

01:59 PM on 05/23/2011

yes its "Obamacare" and you know it! You are obviously not paying very good attention! Under Obamacare the insurance copmanies will no longer be able to deny coverage to anybody! You cannot speak for the voucher system which would go well with Obummercare, because of the pre-existing condition part of it! But you do not know what that voucher system would cover, so to make a commment on it show the lack of intellegence! The simple fact is the left and everbody else that is even close to it, needs to understand that Healthcare is not a right! Its not in the constitution or the bill of rights. And to garuntee it to everybody is wreckless!