From David Weaver writing for The Hill:
Elites in America often marvel at the supposed ignorance of the American people, who, when surveyed, overestimate how much is spent on foreign aid. However, it is possible the public understands something the elites do not: Service from the government is often so bad that there must be something wrong with domestic spending.
Congressional appropriators recently provided more money for the country of Ukraine ($13.6 billion) than they did for administering Social Security ($13.3 billion). ... Congress rapidly approved the president's request for Ukraine funding and even added an extra $3.6 billion.
Funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA), which runs the largest and most important program in the United States? That's different. Congressional appropriators decided to cut the President's FY 2022 request by about $1 billion, which will result in severe hardship for Americans, particularly Americans from low income and minority communities, who will now not be able to access benefits.
It's possible to laud assistance to Ukraine and still wonder what's wrong at home.
Since 2010, SSA's operational budget has fallen in real terms by 13 percent while the number of beneficiaries it serves has grown by 21 percent.
The effects of underfunding an agency with a growing workload are not particularly surprising: large backlogs (one million Americans are currently waiting for a disability determination from SSA), a collapsing service infrastructure (SSA's phone systems are physically breaking down under the volume of calls), and furious members of the public who, in the most difficult times of their lives, cannot get help. ...
Not to deny that SSA is underfunded, but this comparison is apples and oranges. How much does it cost to administer the aid to Ukraine? That's the appropriate comparison. Or compare aid to Ukraine with money sent out in Social Security benefits.
ReplyDelete8:59
ReplyDeleteWhy would that be the appropriate comparison? The top line number is very revealing. The US is much more willing to spend on the military and foreign intervention then on our own people and critical federal agencies that serve those people.
Obviously the Ukraine money is directed on goods, not services, but why do you think that is an important distinction? The reality is that Congress knows SSA is struggling and rather than increase the operating budget by a few billion, they chose to impose an effective cut in the budget when inflation is accounted for. And then proceeded to send 13 billion to Ukraine without batting an eye.
And increase overall DoD funding by an extra $50, $70, etc. billion on top of the hundreds of billions originally budgeted to DoD plenty of years in the last few decades.
ReplyDeleteBut giving one of the most important agencies in your government a couple billion more moving forward? Not a chance, only cuts adjusting for inflation.
This is a perfect example to illustrate the high level numbers this author is focused on. Our budget is so massive that we can easily give Ukraine spending an overnight goose of like $17 billion without flinching. But funding SSA at around $15-16 billion a year moving forward (from the current $12-13 billion) is a political impossibility. Wild, it's such a small amount relative to everything, and SSA is of such great importance!
@2:41
ReplyDeleteYes, you would think the proper administration of entitlement benefits that 30+% of Americans depend on for income would be priority. I can understand why the GOP is opposed, but Democrats are MIA on this issue too. They have an interest in proving government can work, and must be fielding 1000s of complaints from constituents--why are they so silent?
in 1990 when I became an attorney the cap was $4000.00. There was no administrative cost on the 4000.00. $4000 in 2022 is worth $8,844. So while $8000 is better than nothing it is still less than what we were paid in 1990.
ReplyDeleteMy dream is that they would have the attorney fee adjusted annually at the same rate as the COLA. It makes sense. Therefore it will never happen.
@12:10
ReplyDeleteMaybe you were just overpaid in 1990.