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Federal workers’ pensions targeted in budget deal
Top lawmakers have found easy prey in their hunt for savings for Congress’ budget deal: Federal workers’ retirement programs, which are notably generous compared to the norm in private industry. Most federal civilian employees hired beginning in January will contribute 4.4…
Budget Deal May Signal Era of Tiny Achievements
People hoping for a government that works better can’t decide whether to cheer or lament a bipartisan budget bill that legislative leaders call a breakthrough even as they acknowledge it does little. In an era of low expectations, House passage of…
Ryan And Murray See Budget Accord As Foundation For Future Deals
Senate Budget Committee chair Sen Patty Murray, D- Wash., and her House counterpart Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wisc., gave a vigorous defense Sunday of the budget agreement which they announced last week. They said the accord showed that serious legislating is…
Another View: How not to think about the pension crisis
The latest news out of Detroit isn’t good. To get its fresh start, this once great but now bankrupt city is going to stick it to municipal employees and retirees. City retirees there haven’t enjoyed exactly lavish pensions, but what they…
Exceptionalism: Words or actions?
With some fanfare, a proposed federal budget deal was tossed into the public arena last week, and like all compromises, it had good and bad in it for both sides. Republicans liked that there were no tax increases and Democrats…
Retirement Planner: When rising health care costs hit home
With my 97-year-old father in a nursing home, I find myself getting a lot of valuable, firsthand experience with the nation’s health care delivery system — especially the costs. The other day, I received a bill for ambulance service incurred back…
Budget deal may signal era of tiny achievements
People hoping for a government that works better can’t decide whether to cheer or lament a bipartisan budget bill that legislative leaders call a breakthrough even as they acknowledge it does little. In an era of low expectations, House passage of…
Op-Ed: US budget deal helps save defense budget from sequester …
When it comes to rescuing the military-industrial complex from the severe cuts imposed by the sequester, Republicans and Democrats can demonstrate bipartisan action. Without the recent budget deal worked out under the guidance of Republican Paul Ryan and Democrat Patty Murray there…
Chronic Illness, Disability Mean Medicare Access Problems
The vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries have few difficulties getting routine care from a physician, but certain subsets have higher rates of problems, according to two reports issued this week. Those with higher rates of problems accessing routine care “include beneficiaries…
How Paul Ryan’s Budget Plan Could Bridge The GOP’s Divide
Rep. Paul Ryan likened his 2-year budget agreement with Democrats to taking a few steps in the right direction. But the bipartisan deal also carries potential value for Republicans and Ryan himself at a time when the party lacks a clear…