House Republican: ‘We're not talking about taking away benefits from those who deserve benefits’

Rep. Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnFormer Dem Tenn. gov to launch Senate bid: report Google, Facebook and Drudge: What the new titans of media mean for America Learning from the states: Feds should adopt anti-pyramid scheme law MORE (R-Tenn.) on Sunday stressed that her colleagues are focused on preserving benefits for recipients who deserve them as House Republicans push entitlement reform. 

"We're not talking about taking away benefits from those who deserve those benefits," Blackburn said on the Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures."

"The goal is to make certain that those who deserve and need those benefits get everything that they're entitled to," she continued. 

"You do it by making the system more efficient, by innovating, utilizing healthcare technology." 

Blackburn's comments come as Speaker Paul RyanPaul Davis RyanMcConnell names Senate GOP tax conferees House Republican: 'I worry about both sides' of the aisle on DACA Overnight Health Care: 3.6M signed up for ObamaCare in first month | Ryan pledges 'entitlement reform' next year | Dems push for more money to fight opioids MORE (R-Wis.) has angled to make entitlement reform a GOP priority in 2018, calling Medicare and Medicaid the “big drivers of debt."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP strategist donates to Alabama Democrat McConnell names Senate GOP tax conferees Brent Budowsky: A plea to Alabama voters MORE (R-Ky.), however, has dismissed a focus on  entitlement reform, saying Democrats will not be interested. 

Democrats have argued that Republicans have added to the nation’s fiscal problems by passing a $1.5 trillion package of tax cuts earlier this month.