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Republicans are talking about messing with Medicare again, and Democrats couldn’t be more enthusiastic. After an election that has thrown them back on their heels, they are grasping at the politics of Medicare as a path to potential revival in 2018. “We say to our Republicans that want to privatize Medicare, go try it, make our day,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the incoming Democratic leader, mustering his best Clint Eastwood/Ronald Reagan impersonation. (Huse, 11/30)

Kansas members of Congress agree that Medicare should probably be changed. But they are reluctant to refer to a potential Medicare overhaul as “privatization” just yet. House Speaker Paul Ryan has indicated plans for privatization when discussing Medicare changes. According to Ryan’s model, which he has dubbed a “premium support” program, Medicare would change from a single-payer system to one in which Medicare recipients use government benefits to buy insurance from private providers. (Ota, 11/30)