Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) on Friday proposed means testing Medicare benefits as a way to reduce the deficit, an indication that Democrats may be warming to the idea as a way to compromise with Republicans on the so-called fiscal cliff.
Cleaver, the influential chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, suggested Friday that means testing would be a good alternative to cutting program benefits for seniors.
"I think most rational people, including Democrats, agree we have to make some cuts and deal with Medicare," Cleaver said on MSNBC's Morning Joe.
"Let's have some means testing because I don't think that cutting benefits at this time is going to go over well. We can do means testing and reduce the payments [to the wealthy]," Cleaver said.
The Missouri Democrat is remembered for his opposition to the 2011 debt-ceiling deal, which he called a "sugar-coated Satan sandwich" on Twitter.
That deal included about $917 billion in spending cuts over 10 years and ordered a special Congressional supercommittee to produce a deficit-reduction plan.
The committee's failure is what will trigger sequestration, the across the board cuts set to hit Jan. 1, unless lawmakers act to stop it.
Republicans have long advocated for means testing within Medicare. Under the House GOP budget, wealthy taxpayers would receive means-tested subsidies to purchase private healthcare coverage.
For more on Cleaver's comments, click here.
