AP: House GOP Considers Privatizing Medicare (with vouchers)

[flpoljunkie]

(Why the Dems did not hammer Ryan's plan for voucherizing Medicare and privatizing Social Security in the run-up to the mid-terms is beyond me.)

House GOP considers privatizing Medicare

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
The Associated Press

Thursday, January 27, 2011; 7:13 PM

WASHINGTON -- Months after they hammered Democrats for cutting Medicare, House Republicans are debating whether to relaunch their quest to privatize the health program for seniors. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is testing support for his idea to replace Medicare with a fixed payment to buy a private medical plan from a menu of coverage options.

Party leaders will determine if the so-called voucher plan will be part of the budget Republicans put forward in the spring.

"No decisions have been made on the details of our House GOP budget." Michael Steel, a spokesman for Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday. "There are a lot of ideas out there, and we're going to listen to our members and the American people."

Medicare was one of the most highly charged issues during last year's congressional elections, which put the House back in GOP control. Republicans slammed Democrats for cutting Medicare by about 6 percent over 10 years to finance President Barack Obama's health overhaul.

But replacing Medicare's open-ended benefit with a fixed payment would cut projected spending much more deeply.

"Anyone who doesn't think privatization will mean severe cuts to Medicare benefits, I have a bridge I'd like to sell them," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "Privatization will make the cuts previously proposed by either party look tame."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012705630.html

[Uzybone]

1. what a surprise! Not.

[Cleita]

2. Of course they are thinking of it. There is nothing left in the Treasury to raid

so now they want to raid the Social Security trust fund and then there will be nothing left for Americans except a bankrupt nation. They know it's been a disaster for retirees every where it's been tried, but it's a cash cow for Wall Street, the real welfare queens in Cadillacs or make that Mercedes and Rolls Royces.

[DrToast]

3. About time this started getting more coverage.*

*

[emulatorloo]

4. Ah Paul Ryan and his coupons.

I gotta tell you I think even the tea-baggers will rebel on this one.