In an article on the cost of the Iraq War, the NYT presents a quote from James R. Horney, director of federal fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, asserting that, "we’re in a situation where we have to reduce spending and reduce the rate of growth of Medicare and Medicaid and, to a lesser extent, Social Security." The projections of rising health care costs in the United States imply that if the health care system is not fixed, Medicare and Medicaid will impose an enormous burden on the federal budget. However, the projected growth in Social Security system is relatively modest. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office projects the program to be fully funded by its designated taxes through the year 2046, with no changes whatsoever. The program can be fully funded through its 75-year planning horizon with tax increases that are no larger than were put in place in each of the decades from the 50s through the 80s. In his quote, Mr. Horney was expressing his own desire to see Social Security spending reduced, not reflecting the actual realities of the budget. This fact should have been made clear in the article.
--Dean Baker
