Newt Gingrich, former Republican Speaker of the House and possible presidential candidate, is distancing himself from a plan the House passed to turn Medicare into a voucher program, according to a report by Politico.
On his Facebook page, Mr. Gingrich praised Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the author of the House plan, but endorsed an approach that keeps the current form of Medicare while allowing seniors to select a private plan if they so choose.
"One option is for Congress to move towards a 21st-century personal Medicare system that would allow seniors to choose, on a voluntary basis, a more personal system with greater options for better care," he wrote.
Tim Pawlenty, another likely GOP presidential candidate, also has praised Ryan but has not embraced the specifics of his budget plan.
Read the Politico report on Medicare.
Read more coverage of the House's plans to revamp Medicare:
- Republican Plans for Medicare, Medicaid Could Decide 2012 Races
- GOP Proposal Would Fundamentally Change Medicare, Medicaid
- House GOP Considers Plan to Privatize Medicare
On his Facebook page, Mr. Gingrich praised Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the author of the House plan, but endorsed an approach that keeps the current form of Medicare while allowing seniors to select a private plan if they so choose.
"One option is for Congress to move towards a 21st-century personal Medicare system that would allow seniors to choose, on a voluntary basis, a more personal system with greater options for better care," he wrote.
Tim Pawlenty, another likely GOP presidential candidate, also has praised Ryan but has not embraced the specifics of his budget plan.
Read the Politico report on Medicare.
Read more coverage of the House's plans to revamp Medicare:
- Republican Plans for Medicare, Medicaid Could Decide 2012 Races
- GOP Proposal Would Fundamentally Change Medicare, Medicaid
- House GOP Considers Plan to Privatize Medicare