Rep. Steve King said Republicans ought to present more specific entitlement reforms in their budget plans and supports privatizing Social Security as outlined by President George W. Bush in 2005.
At CPAC last week, we tracked down Republicans to get their take on Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget “roadmap” plan which cuts Social Security and creates a voucher system for Medicare. His office declined to comment to us earlier this month, but King said in an interview with TPMDC he has some different ideas for entitlement reform.
King (R-IA) said he wants to fully read the Ryan proposal before taking a yes or no, but said he likes the Bush Social Security plan that many other Republicans now shy away from since it was so politically untenable that year and factored into the Democratic takeover in 2006.
“People should be able to control their own retirement destiny,” King said.
On Medicare, he wants to expand health savings accounts and believes “personal responsibility” is key to reforming the program.
King is on the far right of the caucus, and spoke frankly when we asked his thoughts on the official budget plan GOP leadership will present next month.
“I find myself quite often not being willing to sign on to the Republican alternative. Usually those things are put together with several hand-picked people that go in and they write a bill. And that’s real nice if you don’t have the confidence to analyze a policy or construct it yourself,” he said.
Watch:
Rep. Darrell Issa took a different stance when we interviewed him, saying he would co-sponsor Ryan’s budget and adding he thinks Bush’s plan went in the wrong direction.
Former Republican leader Dick Armey (R-TX) told TPMDC the Ryan plan is “courageous” and that the GOP should embrace it.
We’re going to keep asking. If you hear Republicans in your Congressional district talking about Social Security and Medicare, please let us know.
