WASHINGTON, May 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., defended the Ryan budget plan's handling of Medicare in an appearance Sunday on "Meet the Press."
Rubio, a freshman senator appearing on the show for the first time, said Medicare will have to change. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., head of the House Budget Committee, has put forward a budget plan that would keep Medicare in its current form for those now over the age of 55 while converting to a system of vouchers to help the elderly pay for their own health insurance.
"I mean, anytime -- anywhere between five and the next 12 years, Medicare as we know it will go bankrupt," Rubio said. "And all the people that are out there attacking the Ryan plan, my question is, 'Where is your plan?' Introduce your plan. Because if your plan is to keep Medicare the way it is, then your plan is bankruptcy, and that doesn't work for anybody."
Rubio drove Gov. Charlie Crist out of the Republican senatorial primary in Florida and into a losing independent candidacy with support from the Tea Party movement. He said he has no intention of running for president in 2012 or accepting the vice presidential nomination.
Seth Meyers of "Saturday Night Live," who appeared Saturday at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, also appeared on the show. Asked about the prospect of a Donald Trump candidacy, Meyers said it would be great for the show.
"It would not be good for anyone else, but it would be excellent for us. And I'd be, I'd be selfishly willing to take that," he added.
