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A Further Perspective
Ryan’s Budget Is Better Than You Know
There is no alternative to its long-term perspective and the squawkers know it.
(Page 3 of 3)
Seniors would be far better off under the Ryan reforms extending these policies to all of Medicare than they would be under Obamacare’s Medicare. First, Obamacare’s Medicare changes apply to seniors already retired today, while today’s seniors are exempt from any change under Ryan’s reforms.
Ryan would empower workers under age 55 today when they retire in the future with the choice of a private plan competing alongside traditional Medicare. Medicare would provide these seniors with a premium support payment they could use to pay for or offset the premium of the private plan they chose. Ryan includes extra assistance for lower income seniors to protect them from any added costs, while means testing the assistance for higher income seniors like Medicare Parts B and D today. Moreover, private insurers competing for seniors under this reform would be required to take all that chose them, at standard market rates, regardless of age or health condition, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Indeed, the Ryan plan provides for higher payments to the insurers for sicker seniors. It would also assess a fine on insurers covering more low-risk seniors, and pay incentive payments to insurers covering more high-risk seniors. This would create special competition in the private market focused on serving the sickest most in need of first rate health care.
These are the reasons why Ryan’s careful, thoughtful Medicare reforms enjoy bipartisan support, including from ultraliberal Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, and from longtime liberal academic Alice Rivlin, the Godmother of the CBO, serving as its first director. These reforms are better for seniors than Obamacare’s Medicare, most of all because they free seniors from the cuts and government health care rationing involved in Obamacare’s mangling of Medicare, by allowing them to choose private insurance paying market rates instead. Indeed, Obamacare’s transparent plan is to force seniors out of Medicare into Medicaid, the health program for the poor.
But Ryan benefits the poor as well through his Medicaid reforms, proposing to extend the enormously successful welfare reforms of 1996 to Medicaid and food stamps. Under those 1996 reforms, the taxpayers saved 50 percent on the costs of the old AFDC program as compared to prior trends, while incomes of the poor formerly on that program rose by 25 percent, and poverty among them plummeted.
Under Ryan’s reforms, the poor would be freed to escape the low-quality coverage and care of the current Medicaid ghetto, which underpays doctors and hospitals so severely for the services they provide to the poor that the poor are often unable to find essential, timely health care. States would be free under this reform to provide financing to the poor to purchase private health insurance, empowering the poor to enjoy the same health care as the middle class, because they would enjoy the same health insurance as the middle class.
Dana Milbank describes this reform in the Washington Post as “Ryan would cut $770 billion over 10 years from Medicaid and other health programs for the poor.” Indeed, would it be accurate to describe the 1996 AFDC reforms as slashing assistance to the poor by one half? Would that give readers an accurate idea of the results of those reforms? Or can the Democrat party-controlled media even accurately report or comment on the real world anymore?
About the Author
Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy at the Heartland Institute, General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, and Senior Policy Advisor on Entitlements and Budget Policy at the National Tax Limitation Foundation. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George H.W. Bush.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment
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Timothy L. Pennell| 3.28.12 @ 7:20AM
"Oh my God, it's not a perfect Plan! We could do better! We could have it all!"
"The Ryan Plan leaves the baseline untouched. It doesn't Balance the Budget til 2040. It doesn't consolidated Government Departments and Restore Power to the States."
Every Journey of 10,000 miles begins with ONE STEP.
We've been at the Job of: Wiping our Ass with the Constitution, for a very long time. It's folly to believe that we can fix this problem Wham Bam, Thank You Ma'am. It just doesn't work that way. We'll be lucky if we can get HALF of the things that we need to get. We have a Democrat Party who thinks that we can Beg, Borrow, and Steal their way to Prosperity. They are single minded in their Quest for Ultimate Power and Control over everything we do, say, or think, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. They are more than willing to "Throw the Baby out with the Bath Water", and if the Baby should survive, call in a 3rd Doctor to perform the Abortion.
The Democrat "Plan" for everything was summed up quite concisely by The Treasury Secretary who doesn't know how to fill out his Taxes on Turbo Tax - Timothy FED Geithner: "As I sit here, I cannot say that we have a Plan. But I can say that We don't like yours."
Get the picture?
There's no such thing as COMPROMISE. There's no such thing as Reaching Across The Aisle. Not with this bunch. Not now.
You don't believe me? Go read last week's Big Story in the WAPO about the Lying, Double Crossing Muslim, in the Oval Office. He is Hell Bent on the Destruction of this Country as a Super Power, and all you need to do is read what he said to Russian President Medvedev. He will SELL US OUT to the Left's beloved Soviet Union. The GOOD GUYS in the Cold War. The Founding Fathers of everything they believe. Lenin, Uncle Joe, Kruschev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Putin, and Obama. The Future faces on a New Mt. Rushmore, dedicated to the Ideal of ARBEIT MACHT FREI, and a Land where everything is provided by THE STATE, and to Hell with GOD.
This is what we're up against. Ryan's plan is a 1st step, of a long journey to come. ROME wasn't Re-built in a Day, and neither will The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.
But we have to stick together.
aware| 3.28.12 @ 7:57AM
The whine of a loser. You content yourself with baby steps while the Statists of both wings of the Uniparty are taking broad jumps. The same "coulda' been" mealy mouthed excuse I've heard for 40 years. Even the "expectations" of "conservatives" has become almost microscopic.
Ryan's plan is a cap gun against a raging grizzly bear. We don't have the time he, and you, think to implement a baby step plan. We don't even have a couple of years. Rome didn't collapse in a day either but the end was foregone for quite a while before it did.
Calvin| 3.28.12 @ 9:51AM
The whine of somebody that does nothing but complain.
Timothy L. Pennell| 3.28.12 @ 10:14AM
Thank You.
aware| 3.28.12 @ 5:49PM
Tell you what, Calvin, you just keep thinking some politician is going to fix everything, since that seems to be the extent of "doing something" around here. At this point there is no stopping calamity. Or maybe like Timothy you actually think we have until 2050.
As far as "doing nothing but complain" I have been very busy preparing for what is inevitable. We are just about through the grace period so I hope you haven't wasted it "hoping" for a miracle.
Oldefarte| 3.28.12 @ 3:13PM
You [and yours] are simply FOS! A partial plan is better than NO PLAN or a DESTRUCTIVE PLAN [which is what's happening now]. PF and TLP tell the TRUTH, whereas subhumans like you and your obvious friends within 1600 LIE CONSTANTLY AND TOTALLY. Tell the GD truth, fool or get the hades out of the resto of our faces! We didn't create this crap, your Democrats did so [and I won't waste my time enumerating how, when or where they did so for the last 50+ years of political power in craming down the taxpayers' throats their welfare economic governmental policies]. Go STICK IT.....11/4/12 will be the beginning of the end for you and yours and a taking back of this country from the thieves and BS artists disguised as Democrats!!!!!!!
aware| 3.28.12 @ 5:54PM
You are not only old but stupid too. I way to your right Republican waterboy. Yeah there are plenty of those "thieves and BS artists" in your party too. Just keep sending the same faces to Mordor on the Potomac and expecting different results.
George S| 3.28.12 @ 10:56AM
Rome wasn't rebuilt in a day but Obama spent 787 billion in that time frame. That comes out to $5,600 for each of the 140 million tax
payersfilers. So a good first step would be to pay for the stimulus. How many people would be willing to part with $5,600 today just to pay back money (without interest) that went to buy off state and federal employees salaries and pensions and to the pockets of Democrat Green Energy titans?If we can't do that -- pay back money borrowed only three years ago to establish a baseline budget of 2008 -- then there is a very slim chance that people who haven't been born yet are willing to do that. The Ryan budget is as good as future congresses abiding by it.
And to add insult to injury: what do you think a congress would do if we paid back the stimulus with hard cash? That's like us finding twenty grand in an old coat pocket -- would we pay down our overvalued home equity loan with it or would we buy things? Same with congress -- they'll find a way to spend saved money.
There is no substitute for paying down debt. Each of us has to cut a check or get taxed more money or forgo promised benefits. Any plan that pushes that off into the future is a political document.
I agree that we have to start somewhere. But we cannot expect to be spared the hardship of paying back money we have borrowed and pushing it off to future generations.
Mike 3/505| 3.28.12 @ 12:02PM
"There is no substitute for paying down debt. Each of us has to cut a check or get taxed more money or forgo promised benefits. Any plan that pushes that off into the future is a political document."
Correct...no substitute for paying down debt. But....not at MY expense. I have been carrying too much of the load already. Dump all the illegal and unconstitutional charity programs & agencies...Medicaid, Welfare, Housing & Urban Development PELL grants. Pare the Federal government back to its constitutional lane and that alone will cut over 40 percent of the Federal budget and bring it into balance. Once you do that THEN I MIGHT be willing to cough up a little extra to pay down debt I had nothing to do with.
John McG| 3.28.12 @ 8:06AM
CBO's static scoring seems to be matched by the author's static assumption of Congress's resolve lasting more than two years. Ryan's well thought out plan relies on his shipmates holding the course for years to come. But human nature being what it is, we'll see Congress revert to form as soon as they glimpse fair seas ahead. It would be nice if our fiscal house could be gradually put in order, but unless the reforms occur primarily at the front end, Ryan's plan will be too little too late.
TrueBlue | 3.28.12 @ 4:45PM
Which is why they'd need to pass a budget Amendment holding future Congresses to the resolution proposed in Ryan's budget. Have to start somewhere though.
We keep getting told that this or that policy will take too long to have an effect (kind of like drilling won't have any effect for nearly 10 years, which we've been hearing for over 30). Start with the improvements and build on them. If you don't start you'll never finish.
aware| 3.28.12 @ 5:59PM
Yeah they certainly have shown a lot of respect with the rest of the constitution, haven't they? What's it going to take for you guys to understand the game is rigged and you are just being played?
Clint| 3.28.12 @ 8:15AM
" Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) termed the effort “very disappointing,” in a Tuesday statement. And he’s now been joined by fellow GOP candidate Rick Santorum, who told Glenn Beck later Tuesday that he believed Ryan’s spending plan is a “great blueprint” but he believes “we need to cut government spending faster” than the $5.3 trillion Ryan has proposed slashing over the next decade."
Jack in Wi.| 3.28.12 @ 12:47PM
This plan is a political disaster that the Democats will use to destroy whatever chance the Republicans have in this election.Until we close down these wars, end foreign aid, and bring most of our troops home to their families this country can never return to fiscal sanity. Then we should slash corporate welfare, and close up useless and wasteful depts like Education, Transportation, Energy, Homeland Security, the TSA, Commerce, Labor, etc. When all that is done then we should look at how to control entitlements and eliminate most of them and return most public charity to the control of the states where there can be far better cost controls.
Ryan's plan can be summed up by the opposition as tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for the poor and elderly. I don't think you can sell such a kettle of fish. Ryan is my neighboring congressman and I like him. But I think his plan is a political nightmare.
LiveFreeOrDie| 3.28.12 @ 2:06PM
"Until we close down these wars, end foreign aid, and bring most of our troops home to their families this country can never return to fiscal sanity. "
Entitlement spending has been more than defense spending since 1976. In spite of multiple "wars" defense spending has gone down while entitlement spending has gone up. Defense spending isn't bankrupting the country, it's unfunded entitlements.
Oldefarte| 3.28.12 @ 3:33PM
I partially agree and disagree with all of you. Paul has a valid point in that the need/utility of military operations/bases in foreign countries has passed, and is fiscally too expensive and useless IMHO. Paul's extremism is not politically possible in an ALL AT ONCE sense, and has to be implemented over time [ie Paul's plan] since the American voting public will never approve same. Combine Paul's and Ryan's ideas and you've got a winning combination politically. This upcoming election must be understood as critical for this country's survival, and this current experimentation with the socialism of the current radical administration is a huge failure [and should have been predictable by Americans but sadly due to stupidity was not so]. The point as editorialized by Ferrera [and confirmed by TLP etc] is that this country does not have four more years of the current situation financially/economically. We are headed over the cliff! LFD's truth above ignores the fact that BOTH military and entitlement governmental spending must be brought under control. We simply cannot [as Paul indicates] continue to fight the problems of the rest of the world, and they have to begin to solve their own problems without our help. We have to support the Scott Walkers of this nation who are fighting a valiant fight against labor unions in Wisconsin, and deserve our praise and thanks for same. We have to dismantle the governmental welfare budgetary spending of all governments [federal, state and local] and wean indigents off of governmental welfare [by converting same to WORKFARE with replacing some governmental employees with welfare recipients being forced to work for their welfare received]. I'd like to see a business oriented Romney hire as governmental agency heads the fiscally intelligence of Ron Paul, Newt Ginguich, Scott Walker, John Kacish, Paul Ryan, etc as a DREAM TEAM run government. It has to be implemented over a reasonable timeframe but it has to be done so NOW!!!!!!!!!
Oldefarte| 3.28.12 @ 3:37PM
PS: I advise also anyone to search and read Newt Ginguich's latest proclamation concerning the beginnings of private industry trucking companies use of natural gas to convert their long haul trucking operations and reduce their expenses accordingly!!!!
tsd| 3.28.12 @ 9:03AM
We all can sit and bitch about the never ending details and never do a thing.... it seems we have a million reasons why not to do anything rather than actually do something to improve our condition. For the last few years Ryan has been the only one with a plan to improve our economic condition, TIME TO SHUT UP AND DO IT!!
Clint| 3.28.12 @ 9:15AM
The John McCain Bumper Sticker :
" TIME TO SHUT UP AND DO IT!! "
Indy| 3.28.12 @ 9:03AM
Thanks for the article explaining the budget proposal. There is much I like about the plan but there are areas of concern:
"Ryan has indicated the 10 percent rate would apply to families making less than $100,000 per year, with the 25 percent rate applying to families making over that, with sharply increased personal exemptions ensuring no tax increase for anyone from current law."
So by ensuring no tax increase for anyone from current law, we would still have the same problem of almost 50% not paying Federal Income Taxes? That's a problem...too many are paying $0.
His plan leaves the stimulus spending in the baseline, most voters don't know that, if they did they would be outraged. The massive increases to EPA, Education and other departments (think DHS) must be cut. The more funding for higher education, the faster tuition rises, the EPA, IRS, DHS / TSA, etc. are out of control, everyday I see an ad on TV from HHS. Why do the IRS and Dept of Education need weapons? Enough!
The private sector had to cut jobs for companies to survive, the Federal Government has exploded under #43 and #44. Sure it would be painful for Federal workers to lose their jobs but it must happen, we have to scale back. Federal government cannot be reduced simply by attrition. There are many jobs which are not critical and wasteful like the person from NOAA who sent me a survey twice asking questions about how often I plan to go fishing / boating, WTF? Seriously, "Weather and Outdoor Activity Survey" what a waste!
Ryan's plan is a good start but we can and must do better. Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Jim DeMint's plan has merit. Senator Coburn's past work clearly identifies areas to cut. Why not take parts of each? Yes, the Democrats will balk but Americans need to know how bad our fiscal position is, do we want to be Greece or do we want to right the ship?
Doctor Detroit| 3.28.12 @ 9:19AM
Keep Ryan's plan, but add to it. Instead of ONLY across the board spending cuts, also eliminate entire Departments. We can all think of the depts ripe for the picking.
Lets not get to huffy over Ryan's tremendous effort. If this resolution is amended and edited in the proper way, it would be a true winner for this country.
Maxwell| 3.28.12 @ 9:19AM
Indy, thank you for asking two of the questions I was thinking about, that is the baseline should be cut (I was thinking back to 2000 spending level) and the number of people working for the federal government in the Departments of Education, EPA, & Homeland Security. I'd love to see the BATF cut too but then some on the Spectator do not love their guns as I do.
Mama used to say, keep your mouth shut that way no one can know for sure you are a dummy.
Indy| 3.28.12 @ 9:57AM
You bet, I could easily go back further than 2008 but I figured 2008 was such an easy sell to the public, pre-stimulus spending.
As much as I like Paul Ryan, Mr. Budget Wonk, I cannot undertand why he is is not advocating for budget reform to get rid of baseline budgeting, why? I realize it won't pass now, Reid would never bring it to the floor for a vote but get the issue out there, educate the public to build support for it when hopefully, the Senate flips away from Reid's control.
Derek Leaberry| 3.28.12 @ 9:53AM
The Ryan plan is not good enough because it ratifies the Obama-Democratic budget increases made in 2009. At a minimum, the budget needs to be cut to the final Bush budget in one swoop.
Cynicon Implant| 3.28.12 @ 10:10AM
The plan is fine. The problem is whether Washington will stick to it, as John McG says above. I'm afraid I don't hold out much hope on this front as a majority of Americans have switched from preferring a government of limited powers to one that serves as their nanny. That reality, combined with the irresistible temptation for politicians to buy votes with giveaways, will cause budgetary irresponsibility to creep back as soon as the ship stops taking on water. Sorry to be so negative, but I don't really see any other course.
Doctor Detroit| 3.28.12 @ 11:05AM
Balanced Budget Amendment.
Bill| 3.28.12 @ 10:40AM
The Ryan Budget is the "road map" to defeat Obama in Fall.
Von Mises Jr.| 3.28.12 @ 11:10AM
The reason the liberals reject the Ryan Plan is that it is "fair" and provides "justice" under the "law."
The current tax plan devised over decades has become a plethora of exemptions, deductions and credits that provide loopholes for cronies and a smorgasbord for lawyers and lobbyist. Examples are GE paying no taxes on $14.2B profits, GM $50B in tax breaks, Kaiser at Solyndra receiving $528M in loan gauarantees. Ryan proposes to reduce the rate from 35% corporate, to 25%; but the caveat is that every company will pay the same. On the personal tax side, it is similar in that it provides a 10% rate for average Americans that is consistent with the current effective tax rate. Again, it strives to eliminate the special deals for the Kennedy and Kerry trust fund babies, and others that use creative accounting and lawyers to avoid taxes like Obama's buddy Bufffet.
Crony capitalism, or what is known to economist as "fascism," means government control of business. So it is clear why the Democrat Socialist Party would be kicking and screaming being threatened with the end of their cronyism. And the moochers will not get their free handouts from the corrupt machine politics.
But under the Ryan Plan, everyone would have a more "level" playing field. Companies could plan and hire. Consumers could choose the best products from a functioning free market system. And employees would receive fair pay for their performance (instead of corrupt union deals and structural unemployment).
So who is standing in the way? Liberal elites (socialist) and the entitlement class (mooches).
Disclaimer: The GOP has its share of statist that also manipulate and benefit from the current planed chaos of taxation and doling out favors.
Jack London| 3.28.12 @ 1:31PM
It's not much of a plan though - as it stands it would add about $5.5 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. Unless he says what other taxes he would raise to cover the tax cuts he wants, it's useless. And he's not saying.
Oldefarte| 3.28.12 @ 3:42PM
What is it with your insane liberals always wanting to RAISE TAXES? Do you morons know the meaning of the other side of the ledger of REDUCING EXPENSES. Governmental welfare will and should be reduced [along with discretionary military spending]. Governmental revenues are high enough, it is expenses that should be reduced to solve the imbalance problem, not the raising of taxiation. Someone always has to pay the price of government and that someone is the TAXPAYERS [and they're sick and tired of being taxed to death in paying for governmental crap]!!!!!!!!
Von Mises Jr.| 3.29.12 @ 8:40AM
Well said, Oldfart. And let's not forget growth to GDP. When Reagan cut tax rates, GDP soaRED TO ABOUT 7% in ther mid-1980's.
buckeyeman| 3.28.12 @ 11:58AM
Too much analysis. I have an easier plan: refuse to increase the debt limit. Then let the CEO of the country apportion the available funds based on the priority of what he thinks the proper function of the federal government is and then justify that apportionment to the populace. This is what the board of directors would typically do in a corporation.
cicero| 3.28.12 @ 11:59AM
I am sstill waiting for an accounting for the various TARP and Stimulus give aways. Where did the money go? Who got what? Unless the public gets the answers to those questions, any baseline should delete those numbers. In the past 3 years, the deficit spending has amounted to between 5 and 6 trillion dollars. Any budget should be balanced on its face from year one. The economy will take off like a shot, and any increase in revenues can be earmarked for deficit reduction.
Unless the above questions are answered, and someone is held accountable - goes to jail - this is all just more rearranging of the chairs on the deck of the Washington Titanic.
Jack London| 3.28.12 @ 12:36PM
So - Ryan hasn't said what tax loopholes he would close. Who here is for the 25% tax rate to apply to all income such as capital gains?
Orlan Gaeddert| 3.28.12 @ 2:29PM
Gee, Jack, I guess you think you are saying something worthwhile. But you are not. Please return to your hideaway under the rock.
Mike Stein| 3.29.12 @ 1:54PM
@Orlan - Actually, Jack London is saying something firmly in line with conservative principles. Government shouldn't favor one kind of economic activity over another. Why does the government tax me less for buying a share of stock, holding it for a year, and selling it for a 5% profit than it does if I lend a company the same money at 5% interest? How is favoring stock traders over bankers any more conservative than favoring Solyndra over Exxon?
Oldefarte| 3.28.12 @ 3:43PM
Who here is for a n initial slashing governmental expenses by 50% [I've got my hand raised high]????????????????????
aware| 3.28.12 @ 6:37PM
Slash "government" 70% and taxes 50%. That's the 1st year. The 2nd take another 50% out of both.
This, of course, will never happen. Rand Paul's plan is superior to Ryan's in every way. And even it is a long way from my, what I call the Harding Solution, plan.
jgo| 3.29.12 @ 9:12AM
So, what's actually preventing the "conservative caucus" from proposing a balance budget for THIS YEAR, and gradual pay-down of the federal debt? The willingness to give up most of the ground before negotiations begin.
The opening bid should be to rip out, i.e. totally eliminate, ALL of the unconstitutional departments, agencies and functions -- all of the unconstitutional illfare spending, all of the socialist gimmicks like the Socialist Insecurity abomination, all of the corporate illfare... -- tomorrow, then bargain down to eliminating them over the next 2 years.
Why 2 years? Why not 10 years or 50 years? Because that's the election cycle. If congress-critters could be held responsible with a 4 year trim, if someone in our faction were carefully reminding us of the last 10 or 50 broken budget trimming promises and every filing date to run in opposition and every primary season and every general election season, then that would be OK. If congress-critters were up for election every year and 90% of their useless behinds sent packing post haste every round, then 10 years might be OK.
But the fact is that the so-called "conservative" congress-critters and presidents were too timid 60 years ago and have gotten worse and worse over this time. We have "conservative" darlings like Rubio talking about "saving Medicare", FCOL! Thus betraying libertarians and conservatives young and old.
jgo| 3.29.12 @ 9:15AM
"The total increase in federal spending over those four first years of Ryan's budget is 1.8 percent."
This just gets worse and worse. The total decrease in federal government spending needed each year is closer to 50%, and these "conservatives" are talking about INCREASING the over-spending. (And that's just looking at the need to balance the budget, not eliminating all the radical leftist gimmicks.)
hangemhi| 3.29.12 @ 10:46PM
Such drivel. Ask yourself where money comes from? How do US dollars come into existence? Only 2 ways - the Gov spends it in (pay a soldier, food stamps, etc) or a bank makes a loan. The bank loan, when paid back, destroys the money it loaned. If things went well it created wealth in the economy (new house, tilled farm, innovative machine) but the money is still gone. That leaves ONLY the Gov spending money into the economy. So when you say "Gov debt held by the public" you are referring to what the private sector EARNED. Meanwhile, the Gov runs on fiat tied to nothing, so that so-called "debt" is not actually debt. Why on earth would we want our savers in the private sector to pay the US Gov back?
Run those ideas through your brain a few times, then start reading up on MMT and MMR. The MMR guys are republicans. You won't like the MMT guys. But they both know the truth about this imaginary bankruptcy, aka turning into Greece, that will never happen in our lifetimes even under your "communism" scenario.