Reply #16: UPDATE: Boehner: 'Political Realities' Make Medicare Privatization Difficult

[brooklynite]

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is the latest GOP leader to acknowledge that his party's plan to privatize Medicare -- which passed the House as part of the Republican budget -- will hit a wall in the White House and Senate.

Responding Thursday to the news that one of his most powerful chairmen, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) of the House Ways and Means Committee, will not push ahead with the Medicare plan, Boehner told reporters, "My interpretation of what Mr. Camp was a recognition of the political realities that we face. While Republicans control the House, the Democrats control the Senate and they control the White House."

Boehner insisted the GOP hasn't abandoned the plan, and isn't prepared to take anything other than tax increases off the table. But with multiple top Republicans now acknowledging that budget negotiations will focus on other areas of potential agreement, it seems understood that the plan is basically dead.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/boehner-political-realities-on-capitol-hill-make-medicare-privatization-difficult.php?ref=fpblg

Michelle Bachman's gotta be pissed. Could a GOP backbenchers coup be in the offing?