Despite a mistaken press release from the House Appropriations Committee and despite an erroneous report from the Disability Policy Collaboration, I am being told that the fiscal year 2008 Labor-HHS appropriations bill that covers Social Security is currently only $100 million over the President's proposed budget for the Social Security Administration (SSA), instead of the $400 million expected.
I know you are thinking, a hundred million dollars here or there, what difference does it make? Trust me, $300 million in the context of Social Security's budget is REAL money that will make a real difference in how well or how poorly the agency performs.
The $100 million figure has been reported out of Subcommittee. The entire House Appropriations Committee takes up the matter on June 14 at 9:00. You can watch it live on your computer in streaming video, although the vast majority of the markup session will be about other agencies. Although a small matter in the context of the entire bill, the Social Security appropriation seems certain to get some discussion. The public confusion we are getting on this is probably the result of some behind the scenes differences of opinion.
I know you are thinking, a hundred million dollars here or there, what difference does it make? Trust me, $300 million in the context of Social Security's budget is REAL money that will make a real difference in how well or how poorly the agency performs.
The $100 million figure has been reported out of Subcommittee. The entire House Appropriations Committee takes up the matter on June 14 at 9:00. You can watch it live on your computer in streaming video, although the vast majority of the markup session will be about other agencies. Although a small matter in the context of the entire bill, the Social Security appropriation seems certain to get some discussion. The public confusion we are getting on this is probably the result of some behind the scenes differences of opinion.
The "mistaken press release" and the "erroneous report" both indicate increases over the 2007 budget amount, not the president's proposed 2008 budget. Neither reference is erroneous.
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