Opinion Contributor

Why I don't back Paul Ryan's Medicare plan

By SEN. SCOTT BROWN (R-Mass.)
5/23/11 6:03 AM EDT

As part of the 2012 budget discussions, Congress is dealing with Medicare reform. This debate is long overdue, since its increasing cost must be addressed if we are serious about the nation’s growing $14 trillion debt and $1.6 trillion annual deficit.

President Barack Obama unfortunately missed an opportunity to deal with this when he filed his budget. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) offered a plan that at least finally jumpstarted the debate. For those under 55, Ryan proposes transforming Medicare into a premium support plan over the long term. You’d get federal dollars to supplement the purchase of health insurance in a regulated private market.

While I applaud Ryan for getting the conversation started, I cannot support his specific plan — and therefore will vote “noâ€