Republicans Propose Ending Medicare (Again)

In a move inexplicable in an election year, on March 15 a group of four prominent Republicans announced a new plan to abolish Medicare.

Abandoning promises not to end Medicare or make changes that would affect those at or near retirement age, the latest Republican proposal does both. Promoted by Tea Party favorite Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), and Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-SC), the proposal scraps Medicare in favor of a private plan that shifts trillions of dollars of health care costs to the elderly by 2014.