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Wyden Won’t Support Paul Ryan’s New Budget

A spokesperson for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has confirmed that while the Oregon Democrat still supports the joint Medicare “premium support” reform plan he introduced with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) last year, he will not be endorsing the House Republican Budget unveiled today. Both plans would transform the government’s contribution to Medicare into a “premium support” subsidy and would allow seniors to purchase insurance from the traditional government-sponsored program or an exchange of private plans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) first told reporters that Wyden wasn’t backing Ryan earlier this afternoon, saying that Wyden called him to say “He doesn’t like the budget Ryan came up with.” Wyden’s spokesperson confirmed the conversation to ThinkProgess, adding, “They spoke this morning. Senator Wyden said he doesn’t support the House Republican Budget, but he didn’t say it ‘ends Medicare as we know it.’ He’s not backing away from Wyden-Ryan.”

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