Rep. Paul Ryan on Why You Can't Solve the Deficit Problem Without Addressing Medicare

Politico reports that Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the House Budget Committee and a member of the president's fiscal commission, is skeptical of some key parts of the fiscal commission's proposal:

Reps Paul Ryan (R-Ohio), and Jeb Hensarling, (R-Tex.), said that the plans called for too much in tax increases, and they claimed that the Bowles Simpson approach to health care would have the effect of furthering the Obama health care reform, which Republicans have vowed to repeal. Ryan and Hensarling said they would push Ryan's "Roadmap" plan to budget reform.

And via RealClearPolitics, here's Rep. Ryan explaining why you can't solve the deficit problem without addressing Medicare:

If you're in the Washington area tomorrow morning, you can see Ryan debate New York Times columnist David Brooks at the American Enterprise Institute. The topic of debate will be a question near and dear to the hearts of Reason readers: How much government is too much?

I'll be in attendance, and I'll also be staying afterwards to tape a post-debate discussion panel with Ezra Klein and Jennifer Rubin of The Washington Post. 

You can read my feature on Ryan and his deficit plan from the June 2010 issue here.