Health Care Costs To Rise, Perry and Health Care Reform, Funding Security for Social Security

Good News - Bad News

"The Congressional Budget Office has released a new report pinning this year’s deficit at $1.3 trillion -- the third-largest in the last 65 years -- and predicting that real GDP will rise 2.3 percent this year and 2.7 percent next year.  Federal spending on health care will continue to increase faster than GDP, but CBO notes that some of the cost will be contained by the cost-saving mechanisms in the Affordable Care Act."

Perrycare

"Gov. Rick Perry routinely attacks federal health care reform, calling it a massive overreach that intrudes into the lives of every American.  But in the presidential contender’s early days on the campaign trail, he has revealed little about what his own 'Perrycare' could look like -- or how much changing American health care will figure into his candidacy.  Political strategists say, don’t hold your breath: Republican candidates talk very little about health care in primary campaigns because the issue isn’t a top priority for their voters, and because anything beyond hammering 'Obamacare' could become a target for critics."

"At least on the campaign trail, Medicare would probably be excluded from that conversation, because talk of changing the federal health insurance program for the disabled and elderly could frighten seniors -- a key voting group, particularly in primaries."

That's right.  Don't talk about "things that don't matter."  As usual, broad platitudes are easy, and action or an actual position can only get you in trouble.  That's one reason why President's have so many ups and downs in their popularity; they can't avoid doing something.

Funding Security for Social Security

Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill to lift the payroll tax cap, ensuring full Social Security funding for nearly 75 years.  "To keep Social Security strong for another 75 years, Sanders’ legislation would apply the same payroll tax already paid by more than nine out of 10 Americans to those with incomes over $250,000 a year.  [...]  Under Sanders’ legislation, Social Security benefits would be untouched.  The system would be fully funded by making the wealthiest Americans pay the same payroll tax already assessed on those with incomes up to $106,800 a year."

Amen.  We should consider something similar for Medicare.  Social Security and Medicare are our most important pre-paid public benefits.

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