Boehner Defends Obama on Slowing Social Security

House Speaker John Boehner is rejecting a colleague's criticism of a White House proposal to slow the growth of Social Security.

Boehner told reporters Thursday he disagrees with Rep. Greg Walden's claim that the White House plan is an attack on America's elderly. Walden, R-Ore., chairs the committee overseeing Republican House campaigns next year.

President Barack Obama has said he's willing to slow the growth in Social Security benefits if Republicans agree to more tax revenues to help trim the deficit.

Boehner says that even more should be done to control entitlement spending.

Democrats say Walden's remarks were cynical and hypocritical. The GOP generally portrays itself as an advocate of reining in the growth of Social Security and Medicare.