Democrats repeatedly accused Republicans of wanting to “end Medicare as we know it. In breaking with Ryan, Senate Republicans want to avoid giving their opponents the same ammunition — especially with a slim majority and in danger of losing their majority in 2016.
The GOP budget would balance in 10 years, according to GOP lawmakers familiar with the document, but it will only propose savings to be achieved in Medicare and Medicaid, without spelling out specific reforms as Ryan and House Republicans did in recent budgets.
The Senate GOP blueprint will not propose reforming Social Security, the political third rail that Ryan also avoided as former chairman of the House Budget Committee.
“From the standpoint of a budget, the less words of the English language you use, the better off you are,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member of the Budget panel.
When it comes to saving money in Medicare and Medicaid, Grassley said it’s preferable to “just have figures in there” instead of spelling out specific reforms, as Ryan did.
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