House Republicans Seek Medicare Cuts That Senate Is Sure to Reject
(Bloomberg) -- House Republicans are proposing to cut $5.5 trillion in U.S. government spending and balance the budget in nine years by cutting Medicaid and food stamps and partially privatizing Medicare.
The House plan released Tuesday, straight from Representative Paul Ryans budgets of the past, is sure to run into opposition among Republicans who control the Senate. Almost half the Senate Republicans are up for re-election next year, and few senators are eager to run on a budget that would cut benefits for senior citizens.
Our budget will balance, House Speaker John Boehner told reporters at a news conference in Washington. Its also about growing our economy, growing jobs and building economic strength for our future.
The Senate wont make specific cuts to Medicare in its proposal due Wednesday, said an aide familiar with the plan -- evidence of the deep splits inside the Republican Party over how to govern.
What youre asking me is, yeah, hey, Republicans, why dont you go on a kamikaze mission here and why dont you lead and give your political opponents all this ammunition to just slaughter you in the next election? Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican whose seat is up in 2016, told Bloomberg reporters and editors last week.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-17/house-republicans-seek-medicare-cuts-that-u-s-senate-to-reject