Paul Ryan: Obama Must Accept Greater Spending Cuts In Debt Ceiling Deal

WASHINGTON -- The Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee is accusing President Barack Obama of being unwilling to embrace the level of spending cuts necessary to avoid constant repetitions of the debt stalemate currently gripping Washington.

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin tells MSNBC that spending cuts must be "much more than what's being talked about right now" if the government is to achieve anything more than a temporary solution.

White House talks on a deal have gone nowhere, and Obama and Democratic and Republican leaders are still searching for a legislative package designed to produce enough votes for a debt-limit extension that would avert a government default next month.

Ryan says Obama "is just unwilling" to go beyond the amount of budget cuts considered necessary to get past the current crisis.

WATCH:

In an interview with Time magazine this week, Ryan said that he and his staff "crunch a lot of numbers and review ideas" and have been playing "an advisory role" in the debt ceiling negotiations.

Ryan was also quizzed about his Medicare reform plan:

The CBO says your Medicare reform plan would cause seniors to eventually pay an average of about 60% of their health care costs. Do you think seniors will be able to afford this?

Well no, but I don't think that's going to be the case. What CBO tells us is that they don't have the ability to estimate the effect that choice and competition will have. And they're measuring against a baseline that's a fiscal fantasy.

You can't fix his problem by just reforming Medicare or Medicaid. You've got to deal with the entire health care system. That's where I will agree with the President and Democrats. You can't get at the root cause of medical inflation unless you address policies across the board.

Comments

[MiHi1964]

03:13 AM on 08/02/2011

This lunatic Ryan is just Hell-bent on killing millions of old and disabled people, isn't he?

[John Roman]

01:24 PM on 07/28/2011

Bush era tax breaks and their renewal, combined with the cost of fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will account for nearly half the public debt in 2019.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/bush-tax-cuts-debt_n_864812.html

[John Roman]

01:20 PM on 07/28/2011

Paul Ryan:"I am unwilling to return from lala land, take off my tri-cornered hat and put down my toy musket and face the realities of SERVING the nation".

[PandJonB]

10:32 AM on 07/27/2011

Paul Ryan is another 'elite' that takes George McCarthy tyranny for his own use. A simple, dangerous, incorrect premise to get what he wants.

[JustBNice]

09:47 PM on 07/17/2011

It is fiscally irresponsible to keep the Bush tax cuts for the rich in place.

Obama and/or the Democrats should stand firm on this and show the people of this country just who the Republicans really care about - the rich, and absolutely no one else.

[Michael Valentine]

05:44 PM on 07/17/2011

This goofy wine swilling fool will make Boehner a one term speaker. Good job dude.

[Rick4646]

01:47 PM on 07/17/2011

He wrote a bill that would add $6 trillion to the defict in 10 years and put 700,000 workers out of a job. He has no room to talk.

[deaircamp]

01:09 AM on 07/17/2011

This guy thinks he has some credibility no wants to hear anything Paul the fall guy has to say!!!

Those old guy in Washington sure set this idiot up!!!! LOL.

[Sean777]

12:47 AM on 07/17/2011

GOP Must Accept Taxes for the Rich because it has been proven that the Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich do not create jobs and we need to balance the budget

[dad4lifesl]

12:35 AM on 07/17/2011

How about we look at Indiana for a model? They went from the edge of bankruptcy to a $1,2 billion surplus. While their unemployment is at 8.2% and still too high, it is below the national average. This was all done without raising taxes. If they can do it then all states can do it (with the exception of California and New York) and so can the Federal Government.

[dijit44]

12:20 AM on 07/17/2011

Ryan wants to, "overhaul," the health care system by making it more of what it already mostly is, a for profit business like pumping oil or selling hedge funds, with most of the investment in it going to investors and directors.
He wants less involvement from the American people or their elected representatives because, just as most believe tax cuts don't increase government revenues simply because they never have and there is no indication they ever will, most also believe the health care industry doesn't give much of a particular damn about their health (except that of their bank accounts).
Ryan is confused about that, but then he is confused about basic arithmetic. His utter confusion hasn't stopped him from believing he knows betterr than anyone else how economies work, despite the evidence published by reputable economists, from Friedmanites to Keynesians, every day, that show him, and his, "advisors," to be wrong.

[sympathy]

03:22 AM on 07/24/2011

Confused? I think he's lying.

[MiHi1964]

12:13 AM on 07/17/2011

Where does this freshman PUNK get off making demands on the President of the United States that will effect the lives of millions of helpless elderly and disabled people? Someone needs to remind him that he's not a dictator.

[1murillo]

12:43 AM on 07/17/2011

Republicans gave him a lot of power by making him 'the' budget man for the House. Yet I agree, he (unknowingly perhaps) is out of his league and out of place.

[MiHi1964]

09:10 PM on 07/17/2011

The little weasel should have stuck to driving the Weinermobile for Oscar Meyer (it's true. Look it up).

[ThreeCanyons]

05:13 PM on 07/18/2011

I don't think he is a freshman congressman. But I agree with the PUNK part. He does not even know of what he speaks.

[knott wrench]

11:22 PM on 07/16/2011

What part of $4 Trillion Dollars in Cuts, President Obama was offering and GOPer Boehner wanted HALF of that.

Again, another "Spoiled Brat" Changing his mind for what he wants!

[1murillo]

12:46 AM on 07/17/2011

As long as oil, gas, yacht and jet owners were being negatively affected, Boehner said, "No." It's an ironic laugh that Ryan wants "more spending cuts" in order to be happy. Of course, he'll find another reason to say "No" to whatever Obama suggests.

[dtallwalk]

11:21 PM on 07/16/2011

The rich has sucked all of the money from the housing and Wall Street
Gambling and they do not intend to give a dime back
There republican buddy’s in DC will see to that with help from the tea baggers
But we can fix it VOTE we will always have that

[1murillo]

11:20 PM on 07/16/2011

Ryan is disingenuous. GOP leadership are unwilling to do what's necessary for a debt ceiling deal. Obama has shown that he's open to do many things. He even allowed the GOP to make cuts on several long-protected Democratic organizations. Boehner, Cantor, McConnell have come to the negotiating table expecting 100% of what they want yet willing to concede nothing.

[Ma Lucille]

11:26 PM on 07/16/2011

fanned for Zinn!

[1murillo]

12:40 AM on 07/17/2011

Fanned for King. I saw him put on a great show in the late 1990's.