Can Seniors Really Handle a Medicare Cut?
Social Security provides more than 60% of the income for Americans over age 65. Can we really count on seniors to pay a rising share of their Medicare costs? Jared Bernstein makes the point that Social Security provides more than 60% of the income for Americans over age 65. (h/t "Debs") There …McConnell Gambles on Real Medicare Cuts
After months of mostly symbolic action the Republicans are in a position to propose real Medicare reform can be signed into law. After months of proposing symbolic actions (cuts in domestic discretionary spending), decent if politically risky ideas (the Ryan Medicare reform) and one truly …GOP Cost-Cutting Takes Aim at Medicaid
While the GOP has taken a lot of heat for the Ryan plan’s Medicare cost-cutting proposals, switching their focus to Medicaid isn’t the right response. According to reports, the House GOP is considering plans to reduce spending on Medicaid rather than the more politically intractable Medicare or …GOP Retreats From Ryan Medicare Plan
Two weeks of recess, complete with ginned-up demonstrations against Medicare and Social Security reform were enough to lead to a GOP collapse on the fiscal front. That’s all it took for House Republicans to begin to scatter like a covey of quail? Two simple weeks of recess, complete with …Town Hall Rage: Hype or Reality?
It's easy to get lost in the 'Town Hall Descends into Mayhem' narrative but at many events, citizens and their representatives have managed to keep their cool. It's easy to get lost in the 'Town Hall Descends into Mayhem' narrative - after all, it's one of the few interesting stories that can be …What Medicare's Boss Can Learn from Ryan
Yesterday, Medicare's head Dr. Don Berwick labeled Paul Ryan the real "rationer-in-chief." Berwick though may want to pay closer attention to part of the Ryan plan. You have to give the administration and congressional Democrats credit for talking point consistency. They’ve hammered away at one …GOP Freshmen Take Heat For Ryan's Medicare Plan
During the two week recess in their home districts, Republican freshmen are getting challenged by constituents for their votes on Medicare. During the two week recess in their home districts, Republican freshmen are getting challenged by constituents on their votes which would drastically change …Is the GOP Serious About Means-Testing?
I'm all for ferocious cost-cutting within Medicare. But until costs actually drop, means-testing in Medicare will be code for denying Medicare to many older Americans. Can we get beyond the welfare state? Yuval Levin argued yes in an article in National Affairs . I argued no, here . …Obama Doubles Down on Price Controls
President Obama has outlined a set of proposals for reducing the cost of Medicare. But more price controls and panels won't get the job done. President Obama has outlined a set of proposals for reducing the cost of Medicare. The White House assumes that empowering an independent panel to simply …Ryan's Budget Gives Obama What He Wants
The Republican plan to cut taxes and slash government health care spending gives the president prime opportunities for political victory. “Whatever you do, don’t serve to his backhand.” “Don’t be nervous. I have the new Ryan serve. It’s bold!” “Trust me on this. Don’t serve to his backhand.” …Obama: I'll Cut $4 Trillion
In the President's speech on how he would reduce the deficit, he spent most of his time attacking the GOP budget. Full speech transcript here . 2:43pm: This didn't feel like a policy speech, even though it was sprinkled with policy ideas. The main focus and the meat of the speech came from …Chris Matthews' Mediscare Won't Work
Chris Matthews claims Ryan's budget will “kill half the people who watch this show.” But why freak out grandma when the burden of reform is falling on the young? On Monday’s Hardball with Chris Matthews , the host made a claim that the Paul Ryan bill would “kill half the people who watch this …What the Ryan Budget Gets Right
There's a lot that's baffling in the Ryan budget plan, but also many proposals that are a step forward. I wrote yesterday about what is baffling in the Ryan budget plan. What is positive? 1) The Ryan plan accepts that tax cuts must be "paid for" with offsets elsewhere in the budget. That's …A Budget That Can't Budge
The Ryan Plan won't become law. So what's it for? What is the much-discussed Paul Ryan plan ? You probably know the plan’s main elements: A huge cut in Medicaid, a big cut in the value of future Medicare coverage for those under age 55, substantial cuts in discretionary domestic spending, …Will Congress Buy Ryan's No Nonsense Budget?
Paul Ryan has taken the great leap forward by proposing a budget which tackles the real drivers of our debt crisis. But is Washington ready to act? Paul Ryan, House Budget Committee Chairman and realist, has taken the great leap. He has publicly proposed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year …Ryan's 2012 Budget: Radical or Realistic?
Tuesday, Paul Ryan will formally present the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012. Here's a primer on the new budget proposals biggest question marks. Tuesday, Paul Ryan will formally present the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012 at noon. Frum Forum will liveblog the presentation of the …Ryan Right to Punt on Social Security Reform
A new budget proposal from Paul Ryan will make Medicare and Medicaid reforms while leaving Social Security more-or-less untouched. Ryan's got the right priorities. A new budget proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan will make Medicare and Medicaid changes while leaving Social Security more-or-less …Obamacare: One Year Later
Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the health reform bill. But in this past year there's been no progress on addressing the real crisis: high health costs. Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the Democrats' health reform bill. But in this past year little progress has been made on …