Means Testing Government Benefits
Joe Manchin has said he thinks at least some of the benefits called for in the Biden reconciliation package should be needs-based (NY Times: Benefits for All or Just the Needy?), so…
Should Federal government benefits programs (e.g., subsidies for purchasing electric vehicles, housing, child care, health care, paid parental leave, social security etc.) be needs-based? If so, why and how? If not, why not?
Here’s a link to a brief description of the subsidies and benefits in the current House variation of the Biden American Families Plan, the social welfare component of the Build Back Better Plan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Families_Plan.
“Sunset Provisions: Budget Gimmickry?”
If means testing doesn’t take up all of our time, another, related, subject I think would be fruitful is how we feel about Congress’ budget “rules,” and their ten-year horizon. Is such a horizon relevant? If so, is it equally relevant for “one-shot” programs as distinct from those that are expected (hoped) to continue forever?
Steve Rattner and I often disagree on policies, but this is an area in which we have very similar views–hence the suggestion that we discuss budget gimmicks and whether they’re a sensible way to run the government. Here’s a recent op-ed he wrote for the New York Times on the subject.
I hope to see you Monday!
