Dumbass still has nothing specific to say on health care

[undeterred]

Sen. Ron Johnson says Medicare changes needed

APPLETON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says increasing the country's debt limit could be tied to approving GOP plans to overhaul Medicare. Johnson, who met with The Post-Crescent editorial board on Wednesday, suggested reforming the federal program might be the "negotiating settlement" to raise the debt ceiling. "These programs just can't continue to function the way they are. They will consume the entire federal budget within a few decades," he said. "To me, it's not an option whether or not we should fix it. We just have to."

A White House session earlier Wednesday illustrated how Democrats and Republicans are heading for a showdown on the national debt. President Barack Obama pressed Republicans to support an increase in the debt limit, while top House Republicans pressed him for a detailed plan on budget cuts. Also at that session, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan asked the president to stop mischaracterizing his proposal to reform Medicare. The meeting came a day after Republicans defeated a bill to raise the debt limit. Johnson, during his interview with the board, said he wants to vote to increase the national debt limit, but he first wants to see a plan to curb spending and the issue to be less politicized.

"Let's jump into the third-rail politics together here. Let's fix it," he said. "I think, certainly people like me would go, 'Yeah, I'll raise the debt ceiling.' We've fixed the problem, or we certainly have taken a significant step toward fixing the problem. … The beneficiaries can blame everybody, which is what needs to happen."

The president has set an Aug. 2 deadline to raise the $14.3 trillion cap on government borrowing. Johnson ducked specifics about budget cuts he would favor. He insisted, however, Medicare needs change and expressed support for Ryan's plan, which replaces the health care benefit for retirees with a subsidies system to buy private insurance. Democrats have gained traction on the issue, labeling the plan as a controversial vouchers program that would undo Medicare. Johnson praised the proposal for starting a "conversation" on the issue, but conceded it would never pass as presented — at least this year. "If you need subsidized care, we'll give you vouchers. You figure out how you want to spend. You select what insurance carrier you want to use," he said. "It's a start."


http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110602/APC0101/106020484/Johnson-says-Medicare-changes-needed?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|APC-News

[sybylla]

1. You should write headlines for the Onion.

This one would fit perfectly - except it's quite unfortunately true.

[undeterred]

2. This one will work for the rest of his term, I'm afraid.

He's that dumb.