Gingrich Calls Rep. Ryan to Apologize for Medicare criticism

ATLANTA (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has apologized to congressman Paul Ryan for criticizing his proposal to overhaul Medicare.

Spokesmen for both Gingrich and Ryan tell The Associated Press that the former House speaker called Ryan on Tuesday and offered an apology.

Ryan spokesman Conor Sweeney said the Wisconsin Republican accepted Gingrich's apology. Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler says the call to Ryan "went very well."

The House Budget Committee chairman, Ryan proposes replacing Medicare with vouchers that older Americans could use to purchase private health insurance coverage.

On NBC's "Meet the Press" last Sunday, Gingrich labeled Ryan's proposal a "radical" change that would reshape the popular government entitlement program and "right-wing social engineering."

Gingrich likened the proposal, in its dramatic scope, to the health law President Barack Obama has championed.