Lack Of Overseers Leaves Social Security And Medicare Without Independent Accountability
Source: Talking Points Memo/The AP
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
October 2, 2018 10:28 am
WASHINGTON (AP) Key posts overseeing the financial health of Social Security and Medicare have been vacant for more than three years, leaving the programs without independent accountability in the face of dire predictions about approaching insolvency.
With Washington corroded by partisanship and consumed by political crises, gridlock has become the norm and hundreds of senior government jobs remain unfilled. For beneficiaries and taxpayers the lack of public trustees for Social Security and Medicare means a loss of outside supervision over bedrock middle-class programs.
Most Americans may not even realize theres a role in government for public trustees of Social Security and Medicare, but insiders say the special advisers help keep annual financial reports honest by acting as a check on the ever-present temptation for political appointees to tweak the numbers.
The public really doesnt have a representative sitting at the table with the government officials, and I think that is concerning, said Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services secretary under President Barack Obama.
Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/social-security-medicare-public-trustee-vacancies
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)We have a chance at turning this around - one month.
VOTE!
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)I really dislike libertarians..............that are hell bent on saying that they want this society to be a individual society instead of a economic society , dog eat dog mentality, and blaming the government as the problem..................no, it is because of those called asshole like the Koch's, Alderson and others.....................
November 2018 cannot get here fast enough.............................vote
Duppers
(28,126 posts)Kick Ryan out, forbid his becoming a lobbyist, take away his "entitlements, and then let's then see how He feels.
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)DownriverDem
(6,231 posts)applied for SS and are still working. They are afraid of what might come and are hoping they'll be grandfathered in.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)American democracy, and American government.
Disgusting
FakeNoose
(32,748 posts)laserhaas
(7,805 posts)It is only a matter of time before Trump or other GOP tools use this "vacancy" issue as a reason to privatize.
Could you imagine Sachs in control of a Trillion$
Or worse, Bain Capital?
Shheesshh
Igel
(35,356 posts)not doing anything.
And it's only allowed to buy special issue Treasury notes with the money. And that's what it's done ever since it started to run a surplus of any real size. Every year.
If the SSA money wasn't "loaned" to the federal government, it couldn't keep it, and wasn't authorized to disburse it to retirees, it's unclear to me what, exactly could have been done with it.
ROB-ROX
(767 posts)I think those who are government employees will do a very good job taking care of business. I think it is the political hacks who screw up the bottom line. I have no fear that social security will vanish because we all have paid or are paying for social security. The bastards who are screwing with the system should be imprisoned for their foolish ways. The conservatives are busy with idiotic plan to stop benefits.When the last group of idiots lose their benefits they will vote conservatives out of office. Idiots have a short term memory so they could be voted back in the following year. Social Security is on solid ground. Other social benefits are being attacked and the idiots do not know they will be starving without medical insurance......