PROTECTING SOCIAL-SECURITY AND MEDICARE

In this Article, the Democratic Chief of Staff for the Senate Committe e on the Budget presents Medicare and Social Security as essential pro grams that must be protected. Mr. Dauster argues that Medicare and Soc ial Security have not only alleviated serious poverty among the elderl y and extended lives, but that these programs are also overwhelmingly supported by the public. Though protecting Medicare and Social Securit y hinges on maintaining sufficient funds to sustain programmatic benef its, the author believes Republicans have cynically used the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund to frighten the American public into making severe cuts in Medicare. Likewise, rather than focusing on how to pre serve Social Security both Democrats and Republicans have debated whet her its surpluses should be included in the budget. Mr. Dauster propos es that instead of focusing solely on the trust funds' solvency and bu dgetary effects, legislators should genuinely attempt to preserve thes e programs for the American people.