BUDGET BATTLE

GOP Takes Heat for Ryan Plan

Swing district representatives face tough town halls.

Republicans in swing districts who voted for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan, which included plans to privatize Medicare and Medicaid in the future, are facing a fierce backlash back home during town hall meetings. At a recent event for Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania, one attendee accused him of trying to “destroy Medicare.” Ryan himself has faced tough questions—and boos—at his own meet-and-greets. House Republican leaders are holding a conference call on Monday, and part of the call will be spent going over how to discuss the vote with constituents. The stakes are high: Seniors voted for Republicans in heavier numbers than usual in 2010, largely because of concern over changes to Medicare and Medicaid under Barack Obama’s health-care plan. Now there is a danger that they will oust Republicans just as quickly in 2012, for similar reasons.