Why is Senate Democrat Ron Wyden Teaming up with GOP Rep Paul Ryan to Destroy Medicare?

[karynnj]

28. Was that what he was doing in 2009 with his bill with Roberts too?

I doubt that he is standing in for anyone else. It is possible that he is trying, as many Democrats are, to try to create bipartisan plans rather than continue the dysfunctional split there is now. This is however very misguided in this instance as it undermines Medicare, the budget (as the private companies really are more expensive than Medicare) and the Democratic political position on Ryan's voucher program for Medicare. The Republicans will easily conflate this plan with the original very unacceptable Ryan plan and argue that it has bipartisan support. The fact is that people need to be told that the existing single payer Medicare is less expensive than private companies would be and there are much better ways to lower the costs - just as the outstanding Medicare head the Republicans would not confirm was doing. His methods not only would cut costs, but do so while improving the quality of care.