Republican Senate candidate Tommy Thompson is insisting he wants to improve Medicare and Medicaid, not end them. Thompson offered a new plan at a luncheon Friday in Milwaukee. 

Democrats have been airing a TV commercial that features a video of Thompson telling a conservative group, who better than me to do away with Medicaid and Medicare.

Thompson insists what he meant when he spoke months ago, and what he means now is to improve the two health care programs. He says he can use the experience gained from his 14 years as Wisconsin governor and four years being Health and Human Services Secretary under President George W. Bush.  At the Milwaukee Press Club Friday afternoon, Thompson offered a new idea for people who will be younger than 55 in the year 2020.

Thompson declined an offer to explain his plan more fully to news reporters, and an aide has not responded to an e-mail asking for more details.