Ron Wyden Takes Issue With Mitt Romney Linking Him to Paul Ryan

[LiberalFighter]

Roll Call

"Gov. Romney is talking nonsense. Bipartisanship requires that you not make up the facts. I did not 'co-lead a piece of legislation.'" Wyden said. "I wrote a policy paper on options for Medicare. Several months after the paper came out, I spoke and voted against the Medicare provisions in the Ryan budget."

Ryan and Wyden did work together in December 2011 to develop a paper outlining ways to provide for Medicare solvency, including a "premium support" model. Under premium support, Medicare would allow a menu of competing plans to offer coverage with government payments. Wyden, however, never signed on to support the House-adopted budget resolution written by Ryan that included plans for a premium support approach.

"Gov. Romney needs to learn you don't protect seniors by makings things up, and his comments today sure won't help promote real bipartisanship," Wyden said.

[FLyellowdog]

1. Rut. Roh. nt

[fredamae]

2. Wyden either didn't think this through

or he's underestimated the RWNJ's most Toxic Congressman....because If Wyden were as good as he wants us to believe he is, he should have seen this one coming. He's forever tarnished politically for his stupidity in teaming with Ryan to begin with.
He could have talked to his constituency in Oregon, to vet his plans first but Wyden slams the door in our faces after he gets our $ and votes-so there you have it.

[Cha]

12. Exactly..like all the peeps who

warned him when he did and were not happy at all!

[Inuca]

3. Good! I was hoing for this & hope more is coming

I can't remember how many times I heard about the "Ryan-Wyden bipartisan" plan to reofrm Medicare sicne yesterday. I kind of like(d?) Wyden, but he needs to talk often and loud about this. Of his own will or being forced to do it, and being thrown under a gazzilion proverbial buses, I don't care, this issue must be made crystal clear ASAP.

[jenmito]

4. K&R. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. This seems pretty easy to dismiss

Even if people believe that Wyden was in cahoots with Ryan over this plan, he didn't vote for it and he is but one Democrat in Congress even exploring the issue. I believe that there was at least ONE Democrat in Congress back in 2005 who supported Bush's plan to privatize Social Security and that effort was never considered "bipartisan" enough to dismiss the withering Democratic attacks on the plan.

[davidpdx]

16. Exactly

If Wyden had voted for a Ryan bill then there would be a reason to denounce him. Wyden is well known for bipartisan legislation. He is my US Senator and I am proud of him.

[grantcart]

6. Well you see Romney and Ryan really are going to unite the Party.

Just not the one that they thought they were.

[truebluegreen]

7. their party...

...or ours?

[grantcart]

9. ours.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

8. Thanks.

Some on this board, but not this string, have been trashing Sen. Wyden (D-Ore).

Of course, you may already know that.

[jeff47]

10. Golly, maybe Wyden should have been smart enough to not be the R's fig leaf. (nt)

[Cha]

13. Ya think?

[cali]

11. He linked himself to Ryan all by himself.

[progressivebydesign]

14. Well no good deed goes unpunished. If we dont' work with them we're assholes..

.. if we do, we're traitors. So much for bipartisanship.

[jeff47]

15. Bipartisanship is not a good idea when the other party is this extreme. (nt)

[cr8tvlde]

17. That was Obama's mistake ... he's making up for it now.

He and Reid and DNC all growing a pair ... of boxing gloves.