201708 Preserving Social Security and Medicare in Difficult Economic Times

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 10:30 AM

Barbara B. Kennelly , National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Washington, DC, DC
  
The enthusiasm over last year's election of President Obama and increased Democratic majorities in the U. S. House of Representatives and Senate was tempered by the economic crisis facing our country. For many individuals, Social Security and Medicare have provided their only stable economic security during these tough times. However, some in Congress, including many Democrats who support our two most successful social insurance programs, were suggesting that these vital safety net programs be cut to pay for rising deficits. Come hear from the experts about how Social Security and Medicare fared in 2009 in the face of calls for Entitlement Commissions and "reforms" to the programs, as well as predictions for the upcoming Second Session of the 111th Congress.

Learning Objectives:
Explain why it is important to oppose efforts by some deficit hawks to pay for the short-term costs of the economic downturn and the recovery plans with long-term reductions in Social Security and Medicare.

Keywords: Federal Policy, Medicare/Medicaid

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Because of my work on Social Security and Medicare as a member of the U. S. House of Representatives and as President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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