AP: Ryan speech took 'factual shortcuts' on Medicare, other issues

The Associated Press blasted GOP vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan for misleading claims about Medicare in his speech at the Republican convention.

On Wednesday night, the House Budget Committee chairman used an attack line now commonplace for Mitt Romney's campaign — that President Obama's signature health law cut Medicare by $716 billion.

But the AP's "Fact Check" of Rep. Ryan's (R-Wis.) speech noted that Ryan included the same cuts in his last two budgets, something he did not mention Wednesday.

The Obama administration has defended the cuts, saying they would not affect seniors' care. The AP memo agreed, saying they would "reduce payments to hospitals, health insurance plans and other service providers."

"In addition," the document stated, "Ryan's own plan to remake Medicare would squeeze the program's spending even more than the changes Obama made, shifting future retirees into a system in which they would get a fixed payment to shop for coverage among private insurance plans."

The AP memo also criticized Ryan for false or misleading claims on the economic stimulus, the auto bailouts, and Obama's bipartisan debt commission. The wire service's "Fact Check" documents are treated as an industry standard. 

The Washington Post made a similar effort Wednesday night, calling Ryan's claim that the Affordable Care Act raised taxes on millions of small businesses "just false." 

The Republican National Convention wraps up Thursday night.

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