Paul Ryan-Newt Gingrich Debate is Instructive

Medicare must be modernized since its expenditures are out of control, as I noted in last month's newsletter welcoming reform proposals by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. Implementation by Congress of a plan along the lines Ryan proposes would ease the tax payer burden while introducing private market competition to control costs.

Now along comes GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who offers a different version of Medicare reform than Ryan.

Both men, along with the American Seniors Association, support repeal of the socialistic Obamacare and say that its insurance mandate is unconstitutional. The rub, however, is that Gingrich is essentially taking a states' rights conservative position which appears to leave the door open for a state-mandated program. And, of course, Gingrich initially used harsh language in analyzing the Ryan proposal for which he later apologized and said was taken out of context.

All of this is a healthy policy debate for the country.  We can only hope it educates more people and perhaps drives Congress to consider fundamentally changing our healthcare system away from expensive and oppressive Obamacare. No prominent Democrats are offering any specific reform ideas. At least Ryan, Gingrich and other Republicans are doing a public service by offering detailed strategy on holding down Medicare costs.

ASA believes that Ryan, Gingrich and most Republicans are correct to oppose the political rationing of healthcare for seniors, which will occur if the Medicare status quo continues. It can also be argued that both the Ryan and Gingrich proposals are far better than what the Obamacare law mandates: A panel of 15 political hacks appointed by the president who will decide on all Medicare cuts and policy.

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