Congressman Richard Neal says Ryan Medicare plan is a privatization plan

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The future of Medicare has become one of the biggest issues of the 2012 presidential campaign, with the Romney and Obama campaigns trading accusations that the other side is working to undermine the program which provides healthcare for elderly Americans.

Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal visited the 22News Broadcast Center on Monday, where the Springfield Democrat said GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan ’s plan for Medicare is a move to privatize the program.

“There ought to be an opportunity to sift through the facts as they are presented by both candidates, and it is very clear that Paul Ryan has offered a voucher plan for Medicare. I don’t think anyone disputes that issue, and the suggestion that it would only impact people that are 55 and under strikes me as trying to move away from the fact that it is a privatization plan,” Neal said.

Ryan’s running mate Mitt Romney has said that his plan is different from the one put forth by Ryan. Republicans accuse the Obama Administration of making big cuts to Medicare due to the president’s health care overhaul plan.