Paul Ryan's budget: What's in the GOP plan?

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)

/ AP Photo

House GOP Budget chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin unveiled a budget today that would reduce the deficit by $4.4 trillion over ten years by repealing the Democrat's health care bill, reforming entitlements like Medicare and Medicaid and making cuts to defense that were endorsed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. It also imposes hard spending caps on domestic spending.

The reforms and cuts already have Democrats accusing Republicans of trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor and will surely be a hot topic for GOP presidential contenders in 2012.

The House Budget Committee will begin amending the plan tomorrow. The House budget with spending targets could be on the floor as early as next week, but could be delayed by the ongoing fight over this year's budget. Once the House passes a budget resolution, it is up to the regular committees to decide how to implement the Ryan plan and what specifically to cut to reach his targets.

Paul Ryan lauded for putting forth plan - but many in GOP silent on the specifics

Here are some of the most controversial elements of the House GOP's 2012 budget titled "The Path to Prosperity:"

Health Care:

The GOP budget would fulfill a 2010 campaign promise to repeal President Obama's most significant accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act. A significant chunk of the GOP's cuts come from overturning this provision. They save $725 billion by repealing the subsidies that customers would have received to help buy health insurance.

Medicare Reform:

Medicare would drastically change as part of the Republican budget. Instead of the government reimbursing doctors and hospitals for certain medical services, seniors would purchase a private health care plan among numerous options on an exchange. The government would then pay the private insurer in the form of a subsidy up to a specified amount.

This provision, which is based on a proposal the budget chairman crafted with former OMB Director Alice Rivlin, would increase help for the sick and poor while shifting more cost to wealthy seniors. Republican proponents say this will bring down the price of health insurance because of increased competition and shifting of resources to those who really need it. Democrats claim that Republicans are cutting benefits for the elderly.

Changes to Medicare in the plan would not affect those currently age 55 and over.

Medicaid:

House Republicans would overhaul Medicaid by changing the way the federal government finances the program. Today, it is a matching program which means if a state adds more Medicaid recipients to the rolls in the case of a recession, the federal government helps with that cost by matching a certain percentage.

The GOP plan would change the program by block granting it - which means giving a set number of funds to the states. Proponents of this plan say it will give governors the flexibility to administer the Medicaid program as they see fit while giving the federal government some control over the cost.

Tax Reform:

Details are still murky -- The "Path to Prosperity" does outline a plan to lower the highest individual and corporate tax rates from 35 percent to 25 percent and to make up for that revenue by closing tax loopholes, eliminating special carve outs and tax credits. They also argue that allowing individuals and businesses to keep more money will help grow the economy at a faster rate. But the report does not get into specific tax credits and carve outs that would be eliminated other than making clear some energy and agricultural subsidies would be eliminated.

Social Security:

"In the event that the Social Security Program is not sustainable" the GOP budget plan would require the president and the House and Senate to all come up with ideas to ensure the program's solvency. But Ryan does not offer his own plan on how to ensure Social Security's long-term viability.

Energy Subsidies:

Ryan accuses the president of "picking winners and losers" in the energy field. The House GOP budget would count on revenues from lifting drilling moratoriums both on and offshore.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care and Medicare

[Misty60]

To add: I shopped for the Medicare Supplemental Policy. I researched four: thus, competition already exists and does not work. ie: United Health Care CEO 16 mil. a year, then I found out that the other carriers where giving their employees bonus's. Despite the recession the hospitals are paying their excutives way to much money, if a doctor chooses to work one day a week that's fine with the system, because their pay is so high that they don't have to work more than one day a week. Ryan's plan is fantasy thinking and demonstrates his lack of personal knowledge on how the medical system really works. Robme, choose the wrong guy.

[carolo43]

Heritage Foundation makes up it's own numbers. Ryan got false numbers from that site when he first drafted up this Bill and they had to change the numbers on their website. They then reported that 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortions. That number was 3%. If you want to sell something to the public, at least back it up with accurate numbers! This lying BS ain't gettin' it. You might be able to fool those in their 20's but you aren't going to fool those over 60 and know what medicare is, what it does and how insurance companies dump you. Sell it to the brain dead but certainly not those who know something.

[carolo43]

Those who hate Ryans budget plan have been anywhere from 65% to 83%. The Republicans are not going to fool the seniors this time around. They know no insurance company will insure them. They also know if any company did that it would cost more than their whole social security check.

People need to ask themselves one thing. If your parents end up in a nursing home for a year, or three, how long can YOU afford to pay for the nursing home because no insurance company will? And that is exactly what it comes down to. They are either in a nursing home paid for by you or you have to move them into your home and pay for their nursing care there.

Think about it.

[Captha3210]

CRITICISM WITH MERIT


Former Republican President G.W. Bush receive a 800 billion dollar surplus from Democrat President Bill Clinton! Bush then turn over a 13 trillion dollar debt to President Obama! Two wars and a prescription plan NOT PAID FOR by the Bush's administration!!! From day one of President Obama Presidency Republicans made a point of criticizing anything and everything President said or did! The 750 billion stimulus package was demonize by the Republican Party! Even given the fact that it stop the financial downfall and gave many Americans a tax cut! The 350 billion stimulus package under Bush! To this day has never been explain?What did it do? Where did it go? Unemployment was under attack! Claims where made by Republicans that President Obama said the 750 billion dollar stimulus package would bring national unemployment down from Healthcare was first talked about by Republican Senator McCain. Then he along with all Republicans vote against President Healthcare Reform Plan! Didn't matter President Obama got it pass! 32 million Americans now have the opportunity to receive healthcare! Seven decade of Presidents tried and fail! The Republican Healthcare proposal would have only cover three million Americans! The midterm election white American decided to believe Republican rhetoric and lies. They slowed down the recovery process! White Americans did that to vote against the first black President! Without any merit without a care that it would hurt them and the rest of America! Today eight of the Republicans that won seats in the midterm election is under recall! Recall from the same white Americans that voted them in! Hate and divide is not working for Republicans! Attacking union, teachers firefighter and police is not working for Republicans! Voting base on racism and pure hatred is not working for America!

[zini21]

Maybe if you learned English people would at least respect your failed attempt at republican bashing.

[andrewMG2006]

http://www.endprogressivesocializing.org/apps/blog/show/5948473-the-clinton-surplus-myth

Get your FACTS straight you hardheaded liberal

[Captha3210]

ONLY IF YOU LIVED ON MARS

America witness today Republican Paul Ryan couldn't get white people in his Town Hall meeting to buy his BS! Americans also saw that Ryan couldn't answer hard question about his deficit reducing plan! When asked why aren't the rich and the super rich not tax more" Ryan reply. My plan does? Some in the audience laugh and replied BULL!!!! Only if you lived on Mars would you believe that Republican would vote Republican. After a Republican President and a Republican house receive a 800 surplus! Then turn a 13 trillion debt over to Democrat President Obama! Then charge President Obama with run away spending! GO FIGURE!! Only if you live on Mars!!! What Republican Ryan believe is that he can sell his lie to white people. Who he thinks hates President Obama because he is black! So his plan WOULD NOT really matter! Just promote hate and divide?White people would buy his BS! WRONG! There may be some whites that couldn't careless whether Ryan plan is legit! They just hate Obama! Ryan problem is the midterm election whites did that! Today it is backfiring on WHITE PEOPLE! 8 Republican are under recall and many more are coming! The Republican politician are responsible for 13 trillion dollars of the 14.5 trillion dollar! The tea bagger Republicans spent the summer of '08 saying that the Democrat wanted to cut Medicare. The tea baggers carried signs saying "Keep your government hands off my Medicare". Now the elected tea baggers supported by those very same tea baggers that were so eager to protest healthcare reform just voted to end Medicare as we know it. Hypocrisy much?

[carolo43]

This for me has nothing to do with black or white, Democrat or Republican. This is strickly about how much crap this Bill really is and it's just that, crap, and the people know it. Since when after decades of insurance companies screwing over people have they suddenly become so honest? They raise rates for any reason, drop you for any reason and sure are not going to pay for your parents to lay in some nursing home.

[zini21]

Sorry I'm not poor and I enjoy making money I worked for. The government just needs to reduce entitlement programs to cut spending, not increase taxes on people that work.

[carolo43]

After working for 42 years, I now live on social security at $789 a month. I LOVE knowing I will have enough money each month to pay my bills without worrying where it will come from. I LOVE going to the doctor and knowing that Medicare will be paying for most of it and not wondering and worrying I will be dropped or the cost of my premiums will be so high I can not afford to have insurance. Unless you have these programs, you have no idea how much comfort they offer people who can no longer work so don't run that line past me because I know better.

And when did this topic turn into a union debate or are you just having your own conversation with yourself?

[carolo43]

OOPS. I meant Medicare and Medicaid!

[carolo43]

Just how are people to get medical care once they get rid of medicare, medicare, Obama's healthcare, planned parenthood? The Republicans are trying to get rid of everything that doesn't send people to the insurance company, appears to me. And what Ryan fails to mention is that insurance companies will NOT insure anyone with pre-existing conditions nor the elderly.

I do not want insurance companies in the back pockets of our politicans. They have enough big business there already.

[americanpatriot44]

yea because there isnt enough room with all the bearucrats and union leaders jammed in there. i hear a lot of talk about concern for the poor, when all in a nutshell its a fluke. its not that you dont want rich people to have more money, you dont want anybody to have any money period. its about changing the social compact? seriously? why dont you all pay attention to history and realize that the government programs DO NOT work. they work at turning the people into insignificant subjects while the state becomes all powerful. you guys are a bunch of idiots, i have the most respect for our elders but its our kids we need to be worried about. instead of talking about medicare, why dont we talk about the indoctrination of our youth, teaching our students things that ARE NOT in the constitution (ie: * People's basic needs must be met in a country

* Needs for housing, education, transportation, and health care are overseen by our government system

* Labor laws ensure that people work in safe environments and that they are paid fairly for what they do), last time i checked this WAS NOT in our constitution. why dont yall just come out and say it,YOU WANT SOCIALISM. you dont care about the welfare of this country or about the poor, or the elderly, or the rich, or anybody who just might stand in the way of taking power away from you cowards. this is all this is about power, republican or democrat, im about sick of both. but as of paul ryan atleast he'll take a stand on what to cut instead of sitting around with his thumb up his butt procrastinating on a freaking budget while we middle class americans yall care so much about are struggling to insure the future of our childen. WE THE PEOPLE!!! not the government.

[prmtga2]

Unemployment Rate in Janesville Wisconsin, Paul Ryan's hometown..10.7

[carolo43]

What a joke. Spend all this time draft up this Bill, having his staff doing this and that, getting this thing all printed, beating his chest in front of TV camera's and writes the whole stupid thing up on false numbers?

This is the ONLY thing he's had to do and screwed it up. His big boy pants turned into pampers.