1. Social Services Discussion Dr. Thomason Kaplan University Seminar- Unit 7 Introduction to Policymaking

2. Social Services Programs Let’s consider the issue of social services and domestic policy. And begin with two big questions: 1. What role, if any, should government have in the social welfare of its citizens? 2. Is government intervention in the social services world a detriment or improvement to free market forces?

3. Social Security: Secure or Not? This week, we will be discussing the domestic policy issue of social security. I want you to consider the issue from three different perspectives. Realist vs. Idealist The Policymaking Process and How it Fits with Social Security The prescriptive measures to take in addressing Social Security.

4. Video of FDR on Social Security http://vodpod.com/watch/834173-franklin- roosevelt-social-security http://vodpod.com/watch/834173-franklin- roosevelt-social-security

5. The Obama Administration Position on Social Security Seniors & Social Security The Recovery Act provides a one-time payment of $250 to retirees, disabled veterans, and SSI recipients. Over 64 million retirees and other individuals will receive this one-time payment, totaling $16 billion.Recovery Act Guiding Principles Protecting Social Security President Obama believes that all seniors should be able to retire with dignity, not just a privileged few. He is committed to protecting Social Security and working in a bipartisan manner to preserve its original purpose as a reliable source of income for American seniors. The President stands firmly opposed to privatization and rejects the notion that the future of hard-working Americans should be left to the fluctuations of financial markets. Strengthening Retirement In addition to preserving Social Security, President Obama will make it easier for Americans to save for retirement and prepare for unforeseen expenses. Currently 75 million working Americans—about half the workforce—lack access to retirement plans through their employers. The President’s budget lays the foundation for all Americans to participate in retirement accounts at work, enacting simple rules and automatic enrollment that experts estimate will increase savings participation to 80 percent for low- and middle- income workers.

6. Statement from Social Security Administration The last 5 Trustees Reports have indicated that Social Security's Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds would become exhausted between 2037 and 2041 under the intermediate set of economic and demographic assumptions provided in each report. If no legislative change in enacted, scheduled tax revenues will be sufficient to pay only about three fourths of the scheduled benefits after trust fund exhaustion. Many policymakers have developed proposals and options to address this long-range solvency problem. We have prepared memoranda for many of these proposals and options. Each memorandum provides an actuarial analysis showing the estimated effect on the financial status of the OASDI program.Trustees Reports These memoranda are provided in Portable Document Format (PDF), which we recommend for printing (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). Some of the memoranda are also available in HTML format.Adobe Acrobat Reader The memoranda are listed below in chronological order, most recent first. To search the list, use the search forms at left. Let’s look at their website: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/solvency/http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/solvency/

7. Medicare: Entitlement for Elderly Healthcare Should the elderly have an entitlement to healthcare? Is that the role of government? Should children have an entitlement to healthcare? Should those unable to pay for their healthcare have an entitlement to healthcare?

8. Audio on LBJ and Medicare http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=53 15542n http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=53 15542n

9. Medicaid- Healthcare for Poor and Disabled Medicaid is a joint state/federal program The program varies by states. There are two eligibility criteria. Income Medical States vary on both. Should we have this program?