washington even complete overhaul u.s. tax code republicans washington begin turn attention change possible cut social safety net government program poor children elderly disable americans president donald trump house representatives speaker paul ryan republican officials recent remark make clear welfare entitlement reform often call top priority 2018 next year go get back entitlement reform ryan say radio talk show wednesday republican parlance entitlement program mean food stamp house assistance medicare medicaid health insurance elderly poor disable well program create assist needy democrats washington seize ryan remark say show republicans attempt pay tax overhaul still incomplete friday near finish line pivot seek cut entitlement spend republican plan slash tax corporations rich would raise federal budget deficit u.s. debt trillion 10 years months republicans long argue run deficit downplay impact next year democrats predict republicans return customary message deficits debt matter best way address problem cut federal spend republicans next chapter oh deficit something let cut medicare let cut medicaid democratic senator ben cardin tell news conference thursday negotiators senate house friday still hammer final version republican tax bill want send trump end month sign law craft single tax bill acceptable senate house prove difficult though lawmakers work tight timetable talk could still falter republican leaders express confidence deal strike finish work members chamber opportunity pass tax reform legislation send president trump senate majority leader mitch mcconnell say thursday call tax legislation single important thing republicans help economy grow rival republican tax bill already pass house senate would deliver roughly 1.5 trillion tax cut next decade businesses wealthy americans score big gain bill would add trillion federal deficit period accord government estimate even take account project economic growth pay-as-you-go enact tax bill would trigger automatic cut variety program include medicare due congressional budget rule require laws increase deficit offset cut mandatory spend program pay-as-you-go rule apply medicare health insurance program elderly disable cut program would cap percent 28 billion 2018 accord government estimate medicaid social security retirement program food stamp program poor exempt automatic cut secure republican vote need pass senate version tax legislation dec. ryan mcconnell pledge allow automatic cut medicare happen say joint statement congress must pass separate legislation override automatic medicare cut trigger passage tax bill presidential candidate last year trump say would cut medicare medicaid social security ryan say wednesday private conversations president believe start convince trump change medicare may need trump last month say shortly tax white house would look strongly welfare reform white house economic adviser kevin hassett say thursday event host pro-business american council capital formation group white house study possible change welfare system democratic senator ron wyden say debate last week senate tax bill republican talk entitlement welfare reform code cut medicaid medicare social security go hear lot lingo entitlement reform welfare reform wyden say thursday u.s. tax revamp still incomplete republicans eye social program cut