Having just scored a hard-fought victory on tax reform, House Speaker Paul Ryan now wants to target the deficit problem — by reducing the cost of federal entitlement programs.
The problem is, his GOP colleagues in the Senate, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are saying no way, fearing the political cost of failure.
Frankly, our heart is with Ryan on this, because he's absolutely right about the urgent need for entitlement reform. But our head says McConnell's caution is probably warranted.
The GOP's Senate majority, which shrinks to 51 in a few days, is precarious enough as it is. Indeed, it's not likely McConnell could even round up enough votes from Republicans — let alone Democrats — to push through reforms.
And he's right to worry that, as the nation heads into an election year, his party's edge could be imperiled if swing-state GOPers are caught in the middle of an emotionally charged and politically unpopular battle. And losing the majority could endanger other policy goals.
Besides, President Trump during the campaign promised not to cut spending on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Still, entitlements can't be pushed too far down the road if Republicans truly are concerned — as well they should be — about the deficit.
As Ryan has correctly noted, health care inflation and bloated, uncontrolled entitlement spending are "the root cause" of the soaring deficit. Tackling these issues is the best way to bring the deficit under control.
The fact is, it's got to be done — and Ryan, for whom this is a pet issue, is probably the best to lead the fight. Alas, it's an exercise that just may have to wait until its time has come.