Analysis: Reforms needed to ensure sustainability of Social Security & Medicare

Medicare and Social Security funds will face insolvency by 2024 and 2033, respectively, unless Congress promptly passes reforms to control costs and boost tax revenues to steer the programs to a more sustainable path. The Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees’ 2012 reports confirmed what many already know: the entitlement programs are running out of money to keep pace with the current level of benefits that millions of seniors and disabled... Read More

Transcript: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report

Transcript of remarks by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. SOURCE: C-Span.org “Every year, as you know, the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees issue reports to Congress on the strengths of these two indispensable programs. And we just met to complete this year’s financial review and to transmit to Congress the final reports. Read... Read More

Transcript: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report

Transcript of remarks by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. SOURCE: C-Span.org “Today’s trustees report confirms that Medicare is in a much stronger position that it was a few years ago thanks to the Affordable Care Act. “Without the health care law, the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund would be exhausted in 2016 –... Read More

Transcript: Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report

Transcript of remarks by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report: Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. SOURCE: C-Span.org “Today we heard about the long-term financial future of Social Security and Medicare. These programs serve as a critical lifeline for millions of Americans, especially for those experiencing these tough economic times. Read more: Analysis: Reforms needed to ensure sustainability of... Read More

Transcript: Blahous on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report

Transcript of remarks by Charles Blahous, Social Security & Medicare Programs Public Trustee, on April 23, 2012:  Charles Blahous, Social Security & Medicare Programs Public Trustee. SOURCE: C-Span.org “The Social Security and Medicare programs remain among the more remarkable legislative achievements in American history. Read more: Analysis: Reforms needed to ensure sustainability of Social Security & Medicare “These two... Read More

Transcript: Reischauer on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare trustees report

Transcript of remarks by Robert Reischauer, Social Security & Medicare Programs Public Trustee, on April 23, 2012:  Robert Reischauer, Social Security & Medicare Programs Public Trustee. SOURCE: C-Span.org “The primary responsibility of the public trustee is assure the American public that the financial and actuarial analyses contained in the annual trustees report are as objective as possible, that they use the best available data... Read More

Transcript: Q&A on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare Trustees report

Press conference Q&A on the 2012 Social Security & Medicare fund trustees report released on April 23, 2012: Question: // // // ]]> “With the disability trust fund, what’s the administration’s plan to deal with that in the near term. Is it to combine the two funds or to direct money away from the OASI fund?” Read more: Analysis: Reforms needed to ensure sustainability of Social Security & Medicare Treasury... Read More

Infographic: Breakdown of federal mandatory spending

Highlights:  The federal government spent $2 trillion on mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and retirement benefits for federal and military employees. Health care spending took up the largest chunk of the budget with $856 billion. Read More  Read More

Infographic: Where did the federal tax dollars go in 2011?

Highlights:   The federal government spent $3.6 trillion last year, creating a deficit of $1.3 trillion. Most of the money were spent on defense, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Read More  Read More

Transcript: President Obama calls Ryan budget a ‘Trojan Horse’ for ‘thinly veiled social Darwinism’

Transcript of President Barack Obama’s speech at the Associated Press luncheon on April 3, 2012:  President Obama: President Barack Obama at the Associated Press luncheon. SOURCE: WhiteHouse.gov “Thank you very much.  Please have a seat.  Well, good afternoon, and thank you to Dean Singleton and the board of the Associated Press for inviting me here today.  It is a pleasure to speak to all of you — and to have a microphone that... Read More