The Hill News

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) criticized Democrats for attacking House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) plan without offering one of their own that protects Medicare without hurting the economy.

"All the people out there attacking the Ryan plan, my question is where is your plan?" Rubio said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Democrats have been attacking House Republicans for passing Ryan's plan, which aims to reduce the deficit through cutting federal spending and reforming entitlement programs. The plan replaces Medicare with subsidies for private insurance companies. Democrats argue that Ryan's plan would basically eliminate Medicare.

"Anybody out there who thinks there's a better way to save Medicare should introduce a bill on Monday," Rubio said.

Rubio defended the Ryan plan as one that saves Medicare from going bankrupt over the next decade. He said Democrats have no counter plan.

"What is their plan! to save a program that's going to go bankrupt in five to 12 years?" Rubio asked.

Last week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate would hold a vote on the Ryan plan. Senate Democrats hope to put Republican senators facing in a tough spot having voted for the plan, which contain benefit cuts that polling shows are unpopular.

Rubio did not say he would definitely vote for the plan, but he indicated that it met some of the criteria required to win his vote.

"I'll vote for any plan that saves medicare, saves seniors, and doesn't hurt economic growth," Rubio said.