In Case You Missed It…

This week on Off the Charts, we discussed the deficit, state-level public services, and how Social Security helps alleviate poverty.

• On the deficit, Jim Horney explained how the Congressional Budget Office’s update of the federal budget shows no significant change in the budget outlook and deficit projections.  Paul Van de Water examined Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan, finding it would shift massive resources from the broad majority of Americans to the very wealthy, while leaving the budget on an unsustainable course for decades.  Van de Water also debunked recent claims about Medicare’s financing and the deficit.
• On the state level, Jon Shure highlighted a recent vote in Michigan to increase funding for local services by raising taxes.  Shure also commented on a recently retracted statement by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour about the new federal assistance for states.
• On Social Security, we sat down with Paul Van de Water to discuss Social Security’s effect on poverty.

In other news, the Center released reports on how the Johanns amendment to the small business bill would be harmful to the health reform law, the 2010 Medicare Trustees’ Report (which shows benefits of health reform and the need for its successful implementation), and how states should structure insurance exchanges as part of the new health reform law.  We also released a podcast on how Social Security reduces poverty.