Ryan determined to fight for Medicare plan

WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan says he's determined to push his Medicare plan even if it costs him his seat in the next election.

"I don't care about that," Ryan told ABC News in an interview Wednesday. He said Republicans should fight for a House-approved Medicare voucher plan as part of negotiations on raising the federal budget debt ceiling. Democrats say Ryan's plan -- which would go into effect in 2021 and not affect anyone now more than age 55 -- will cost the GOP dearly in the 2012 elections.

"Now is not that time to be worried about political careers," Ryan said on "Subway Series with Jonathan Karl." "Sincerely, I will be fine if I lose my house seat because you know what? I will know I did what I thought was right to save the country from fiscal ruin."

Former President Bill Clinton told Ryan backstage at a forum on the national debt Wednesday afternoon Democrats shouldn't allow Tuesday's victory over a Republican in a special New York congressional election undermine efforts to rein in the deficit. Clinton said he hoped Democrats would not use the election as an excuse to do nothing, Fox News reported.

"The president (Obama) and his party, they basically decided to medi-scare … to get votes. It did work to scare seniors," Ryan said.