Social Security News 6-29-12

NPR (NAT)

New Republic: Court Curtails Medicaid Expansion

06-29-12

Ed Kilgore

Given the immense attention rightly being devoted to the Supreme Court's treatment of the individual mandate, it's not surprising that far fewer words are being spilled on the Court's other big finding: that the federal government cannot withhold all Medicaid funds from states refusing to accept the Medicaid expansion that contributes so much to the law's goal of covering the uninsured.

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/29/155974499/new-republic-court-curtails-medicaid-expansion

 

The New York Times (NAT)

End It

6-28-12

Letter to the Editor

However, in the final report, they sang a new tune. After a hymn to the majesty and importance of Social Security, misleading statements about its funding and a litany of benefit reductions, the co-chairs recommended: “Reform Social Security for its own sake, and not for deficit reduction.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/books/review/end-it.html

 

The Washington Post (NAT)

Kaine, Allen offer dueling economic plans at Reston forum

06-29-12

Ben Pershing

Asked about Social Security reform, Kaine said he was wary of raising the retirement age, because workers who do manual labor might have trouble continuing to do their jobs as they get older. Instead, Kaine said, he would like to see the cap on income subject to payroll taxes raised.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/kaine-allen-offer-dueling-economic-plans-at-reston-forum/2012/06/28/gJQAvr459V_story.html

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Supreme Court Calls Insurance Penalty a Tax

06-28-12

Floyd Norris

By considering the penalty for not buying health insurance a tax, the Supreme Court created a tax that people will pay only if they do not buy something.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/business/supreme-court-calls-insurance-penalty-a-tax.html

 

The Washington Post (NAT)

Tim Pawlenty’s losing bet: Obama’s had no entitlement proposals

06-29-12

Josh Hicks

The former Minnesota governor promised to mow Bob Schieffer’s lawn if he could name an Obama effort to reform entitlements.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/tim-pawlentys-losing-bet-obamas-had-no-entitlement-proposals/2012/06/29/gJQA75BZBW_blog.html

 

The York Dispatch (NM)

Locals Differ on Health Care Mandate

06-29-12

Chelsea Shank

"If America can't run Medicare and Social Security, why would they want to be in the insurance business? They're going to mess it up."

"Something did need to be done, but not socialized health care," Duttera added. "Just wait until people start paying for it next year. People don't have any idea what the costs are going to be."

http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/locals-differ-on-health-care-mandate/a1a57a5b5f9a428e9d9c6e196d61818a

 

San Francisco Chronicle (CA)

Should Having A Private Pension Be Made Mandatory?

06-28-12

Ana Gonzalez Ribeiro

The surge in baby boomers coming to retirement age will undoubtedly cause a strain on Social Security.  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in a recent review of the outlook of pensions in 34 countries, emphasized the importance of workers continuing to work past retirement age and said we can expect smaller government-subsidized pensions. 

http://www.sfgate.com/business/investopedia/article/Should-Having-A-Private-Pension-Be-Made-Mandatory-3672173.php

 

Times Herald-Record (NY)

Single-payer health care system would ensure ‘necessary service for everyone’

06-29-12

Michael Novinson

“Health care is a necessary service for everyone,” said Birnbaum, who’s been practicing for 57 years. “It’s not a gift, it’s not an entitlement.”

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120629/NEWS/120629691

 

Ventura County Star (CA)

Republican insanity

06-29-12

Letter to Editor

Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. For example, since 1936 when the Social Security program was enacted by a Democratic Congress, it has been the stated object of the Republican Party to overturn it. They have tried, without success for the last 75 years.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/28/republican-insanity/?opinion=1

 

Orlando Sentinel (FL)

Editorial: Florida should accept the Supreme Court health-care ruling

6-29-12

Editorial: Now that the Supreme Court has ruled on health care, Florida's leaders need to begin implementing it.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-supreme-court-runing-health-care-062912-20120628,0,5404509.story

 

Patch (CT)

A Republican Who Approve the SCOTUS Decision

06-29-12

Anthony Karge

The Supreme Court upheld the health care mandate, and Connecticut readers react to the decision.

I am a Republican who approves the USSC decision. I am also almost 75 and live on Social Security and Medicare so that I have no problems with the bill that Congress passed and the President signed into law. Some who may be younger than myself may have some problem with certain parts of the new law.

http://milford.patch.com/articles/a-republican-who-approve-the-scotus-decision

 

Fox Business (NAT)

Is My Social Security Enough for My Wife?

06-29-12

Steve Bucci

It's smart to have a financial plan before you die. One move to make: Pay off the mortgage.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/06/28/is-my-social-security-enough-for-my-wife/

 

Insurance News (Blog)

Becerra -- Opening Statement at Hearing on Social Security Disability Program

06-27-12

The current appeals process has a number of strengths; however, there is always room for improvement. It is designed to be fair and accessible. It's non-adversarial, so judges can focus on fact-finding and applying the law. It's impartial because independent judges take a fresh look at the case, and their decisions are not based on meeting certain allowance or denial rates. It's face-to-face -- and the first time that the person and the SSA evaluator are actually able to talk to each other.

http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=347755

 

Commentary Magazine (Blog)

Entitlements Swallowing Up Federal Budget

06-29-12

Max Boot

The news today has been all health care, all the time. And understandably so. But amid the laser-like focus on the Supreme Court ruling  upholding President Obama’s new health care system, it is important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. Health care is merely the latest in a long line of social welfare expenditures, going all the way back to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which have swallowed up an ever-growing share of the federal budget—and the national economy.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/06/28/entitlements-swallowing-up-federal-budget/

 

Mercatus Center

Blahous On the Fiscal Impact of the Health Care Ruling

06-29-12

Charles Blahous

“The Supreme Court’s action of striking down only the requirement that the states expand Medicaid may mean that the health law will do even more fiscal damage than before."

http://mercatus.org/expert_commentary/blahous-fiscal-impact-health-care-ruling

 

The Greenroom (Blog)

The Future of Social Security: Getting Bleaker & Bleaker

06-29-12

Dustin Siggins

Blahous pointed out that the depletion of the trust fund completely undermines the principles under which Social Security was founded – namely the idea that the program would be completely self-sustaining.

http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2012/06/29/the-future-of-social-security-getting-bleaker-bleaker/

 

Forbes (NAT)

U.S. Entitlements: The Largest Theft Racket In World History

Wendy Milling

06-29-12

If you object that there is a moral difference between a criminal theft racket and the entitlement programs, you might fire off a number of superficial dissimilarities between them. However, your ultimate argument, the one that manufactures a fundamental distinction between the two and which is the most accepted line of defense of the entitlements in the United States today, will be a monstrous philosophical concept called the social contract.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/06/28/u-s-entitlements-the-largest-theft-racket-in-world-history/

 

 

Politics

 

The Washington Post (NAT)

Ruling secures for Obama a larger place in history

06-28-12

Peter Wallsten

The Supreme Court ruling put President Obama back on a path to achieving the historic significance he desires.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ruling-secures-for-obama-a-larger-place-in-history/2012/06/28/gJQAxNSDAW_story.html

 

The Atlantic Wire (NAT)

Can Republican Governors Block Obamacare?

06-29-12

Elspeth Reeve

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled Obamacare constitutional, a growing chorus of Republicans, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, are urging states to simply refuse to implement the law. Do they actually have that chance?

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/06/can-republican-governors-block-obamacare/54053/

 

The Atlantic (NAT)

Politics Excessive Deference to Leaders Corrupts Them

06-29-12

Conor Friedersdorf

Who wouldn't lose their humility if constantly surrounded by sycophants eager to invest them with unchecked power?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/06/excessive-deference-to-leaders-corrupts-them/259164/

 

The Hill (NAT)

CBO says highway bill would reduce deficit

06-29-12

Erik Wasson

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office on Friday said the combined highway, student loan and flood insurance bill coming up for votes in the House and Senate reduces the deficit. Over ten years, the bill cuts the deficit by $16.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/235599-cbo-says-highway-bill-reduces-deficit

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Europeans Agree to Use Bailout Fund to Aid Banks

06-29-12

Steven Erlanger Paul Geitner

The agreement, reached early Friday after all-night talks, cheered financial markets, but analysts warned that crucial details needed to be worked out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/business/global/daily-euro-zone-watch.html?_r=

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