Boehner: "Retirees are gonna be taken care of"

House Speaker John Boehner told CBS News Friday that "there's no ifs, ands or buts" about whether America will take care of its retirees.

But if Medicare is not reformed, he added, "senior benefits are gonna get cut."

"Why? Because they're unaffordable," the Ohio Republican said. "That's why we have to deal with this. And we need to deal with it now."

The Republican-led House passed a budget in Aprilthat transforms Medicare into a voucher-like program for Americans under 55. Democrats have attacked the proposal, with President Obama vowingthat he will not "allow Medicare to become a voucher program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry, with a shrinking benefit to pay for rising costs."

The government reported Friday that the Medicare hospital insurance fund will be exhausted in 2024.

Boehner made the comments during an interview with Harry Smith at the Capitol for CBS' "Face the Nation." The full interview will be broadcast Sunday.

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