The debate over reform of Social Security and Medicare is taking place in a vacuum, without adequate consideration of fundamental facts. These facts include the following: Two-thirds of Americans who are over the age of 65 depend on an average annual Social Security benefit of $15,168.36 for at least half […] Read more »
The Real Conservative Echo Chamber
The James Madison Institute, a conservative think tank in Florida, has a new poll out that purports to show that 59 percent of Floridians oppose the Medicaid expansion that Republican Governor Rick Scott just endorsed. It’s a push poll. And it’s a great example of the phenomenon that keeps making […] Read more »
Polling on Raising the Age of Medicare Eligibility: Historic Trends and Current Nuances
With Medicare spending expected to rise as a share of the federal budget and the nation’s economy, policymakers are challenged to find ways to reduce the future growth in Medicare spending, while preserving the quality and affordability of care, and assuring fair payments to plans and providers. … Given the recent […] Read more »
A Bipartisan Nation of Beneficiaries
As President Barack Obama negotiates with Republicans in Congress over federal entitlement spending, a new national survey by the Pew Research Center finds that a majority of Americans (55%) have received government benefits from at least one of the six best-known federal entitlement programs. [cont.] Pew Read more »
Obama Wins Almost 50% Republicans on Tax Mandate in Poll
President Barack Obama won the public argument over taxes so decisively that almost half of Republicans now say he has an election mandate to raise rates on the rich. Majorities of about 2-to-1 also read the election results as an endorsement of Obama’s pledge to protect Social Security and Medicare […] Read more »
Entitlement Cuts Feared Most in ‘Cliff’ Talks
As President Obama and congressional leaders race to avert the fiscal cliff, Americans remain concerned that whatever budget deal they strike will cut too much from Medicare and Social Security, according to a new poll. More of the Americans surveyed (35 percent) are worried about such cutbacks than seeing their […] Read more »