Republicans don't have a long, solid history of supporting Medicare. If some Republicans had their way, including former President Ronald Reagan, Medicare might not exist today.

After listening to US Representative Chris Lee, who was in Rochester yesterday, you would have thought Republicans were in a desperate fight to keep Democrats from gutting the program that is so popular with seniors.

It's a cynical strategy, but it has worked. Any talk of changes to Medicare stops most seniors in their tracks.

Lee was here to make his case against the House Democrats' health-care reform proposal, HR-3200, because, he says, it will hurt Medicare recipients.

It's true that Democrats want to squeeze efficiency out of Medicare and to slow the growth of spending on the program.

House Democrats also want to cut Medicare Advantage, private insurance plans that taxpayers have subsidized for years to enhance Medicare. Advantage plans provide about $1,000 in extra services annually to recipients. About 10 million people or 25 percent of all Medicare recipients, according to a recent New York Times editorial, are enrolled in private insurance plans under Advantage.

Under the House Democrats' plan, payments to Advantage plans would be eliminated, which would force insurance companies to compete for those customers who still wish to purchase extra insurance.

And the savings, about $100 billion over 10 years, would be used to expand coverage for the uninsured, decrease hospital re-admissions, and eliminate the prescription drug "donut hole."

Lee also criticized the Democrats' plan because it does not address the liability issues that medical professionals face, calling it the driving force in escalating health care costs.

Liability is an issue for doctors and hospitals, but it's not the main reason health-care costs keep going up year after year.

Many people are reluctant to put a cap on malpractice payouts because, they say, it is the health-care system's strongest check and balance.

In a written statement yesterday, US Representative Louise Slaughter reiterated that AARP, the national organization that represents seniors, endorses the House bill.

Ultimately, the entire Medicare system would be improved under HR 3200, and all recipients would reap the benefits.