The Republican leader in the House of Representatives, who may become the Speaker of the House next year, is proposing that federal spending levels be returned to what they were in fiscal year 2008. Returning Social Security's budget to its 2008 level, would be a massive cut. There would be layoffs. The agency would go into free fall with dramatic reductions in public service. It would be a nightmare.
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ReplyDeleteIf returning Social Security's budget to its FY 2008 level, would be a "massive cut," there must have been a "massive" increase in the Social Security budget since FY 2008. Somehow don't remember you trumpeting that "massive" increase.
ReplyDeleteI'm no fan of the Boner, but it's pretty obvious that there are going to have to be cuts in overall federal spending. Note, however, that he excludes the defense budget, when we spend more on defense than all other nations combined.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of areas that could be cut in SSA without adversely affecting direct service. Consolidation of regional offices, cuts in CO, travel, closing resident stations, to name a few. Jettisoning non mission critical tasks such as the centenarian projects is another example.
I think the stimulus infusion last year blinded SSA into thinking the gravy train would last. It can't.
I don't see any "gravy train". The only extra funds available are for overtime, and you can only work so much without approaching exhaustion. My FO has regained only five of the nine positions we lost from 2007-2008, and the backlogs are beyond fixable. half of the CR's are trainees with less than three years of experience, and they cannot catch up on the training they are supposed to have because there is too much work to do. There currently is a hiring freeze. If ot hours are cut you can kiss claims processing goodbye. I do not see salvation from either party. Things are really bad, and not getting better.
ReplyDeleteOh just keep spending. Also, "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!!" You haven't seen a massive reduction in services yet. This program is going away. Plan B?
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