Saving the AMERICAN. Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity

Transcription

1 Saving the AMERICAN dream Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity

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3 Saving the AMERICAN dream In these pages, you will gain a new understanding of the steps we must take to fix our debt crisis and restore prosperity nationwide. Building on decades of Heritage research, Saving the American Dream presents a plan to unleash the creativity of our hard-working citizens and leave our children and grandchildren with a better life. WHAT S INSIDE AMERICA S FISCAL CRISIS...page 2 THE HERITAGE PLAN...page 4 TAX REFORM...page 6 HEALTH CARE & MEDICAID...page 8 MEDICARE...page 10 SOCIAL SECURITY...page 12 GOVERNMENT SPENDING...page 14 CONNECT WITH HERITAGE...page 16

4 What Leaders are Saying About the Plan Getting our country s fiscal house in order is no easy task. Thankfully, our friends at The Heritage Foundation have done the hard work of thinking through and creating public policies that get government under control and save the American dream for this generation and the next. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) The analysis of our fiscal problems is compelling, and the proposed solution is bold and imaginative. Ambassador John Bolton The Heritage Foundation s plan to save the American dream would create economic certainty for businesses by putting our nation on a more stable economic course and giving businesses the freedom to expand. Andrew F. Puzder CEO of CKE Restaurants Inc. (Hardee s and Carl s Jr.) and co-author of Job Creation: How It Really Works and Why Government Doesn t Understand It The Heritage Plan offers a way out if politicians put the welfare of their country ahead of their own. Cal Thomas America s #1 nationally syndicated columnist Comprehensive tax reform is an essential element of restoring fiscal sanity and spurring economic growth in the country. The Heritage Foundation s proposal moves the country s tax code in the right direction toward a more low-rate, flat tax. Arthur B. Laffer, Ph.D. The Father of Supply-Side Economics America does not have to be a country in decline. Do we have choices to make? Yes. And I encourage anyone who is serious about making the right choices to read The Heritage Foundation s plan to fix the debt, cut spending, and restore prosperity. Steve Forbes Editor-in-Chief, Forbes magazine

5 Fellow Americans: Saving the American Dream is our plan to fix the debt, cut spending, and, above all, restore prosperity. We have come to a time of decision. For far too long, Congress has been on an unsustainable binge of spending, taxing, and borrowing. Our nation is going broke, and we are passing the costs of these misguided policies to our children and their children. But this fate does not have to be our future. Saving the American Dream is our plan to fix the debt, cut spending, and, above all, restore prosperity. It balances the nation s budget within a decade and keeps it balanced. It eliminates government-mandated health care and fully funds our national defense. In order to get our fiscal house in order, we must address Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the three so-called entitlement programs which together account for 43 percent of federal spending today. Far too many seniors still lack enough help to avoid poverty. Saving the American Dream therefore does not end these programs; instead it focuses them on those who need them. We have been here before, and every time the American people have always risen to the occasion. In 1776 we were told that no upstart colonists could defeat the strongest nation in the world, and we decided to change the course of history. In 1860 we were told the Union could not hold and that America was over, and we brought forth a new birth of freedom. In 1980 we were told that the American century was at an end, and we launched a great economic expansion, rebuilt our military, and revived our national spirit. All that is required, as my hero Ronald Reagan once said, is our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together, with God s help, we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us. Hard times demand tough choices. The future of our nation is at stake. Together, let us seize the moment, change our country s course, and save the American Dream. Edwin J. Feulner President, The Heritage Foundation Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 1

6 America Faces a Fiscal Crisis Decades ago, politicians promised Baby Boomers health and retirement benefits but provided no way to pay for them. Now we are faced with the consequences of their neglect. U.S. debt held by the public equals nearly 70 percent of GDP and is rapidly growing. Medicare and Social Security face nearly $40 trillion in longterm unfunded obligations over $200,000 for every American. We cannot leave these burdens for our children and grandchildren. We must begin now to solve these problems. And we all must share the burdens those solutions will entail. endless borrowing imposes huge burdens on future generations. Artiga Photo/Corbis 2 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

7 Why the National Debt Matters n Adding up each year s annual budget shortfall (deficits), the national debt has recently topped $14 trillion with no end in sight. n Mounting debt results in economic crisis, as countries like Greece and Portugal have learned the hard way. n Because debt always has to be paid, endless borrowing imposes huge burdens on future generations. The Cause: Unlimited Government n 43% of all tax dollars go to funding the three major entitlement programs: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. n Entitlement spending will consume all tax revenue by 2049, leaving nothing for constitutional functions such as defense. n As government spending has more than doubled since 1965, clearly Washington must be more efficient in every line of the budget or we all will face the consequences. Runaway Federal Spending Will Result in Huge Budget Deficits Revenue and Spending as a Percentage of GDP 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% SPENDING REVENUE 10% Surplus/Deficit as a Percentage of GDP Surplus/Deficit as a Percentage of GDP 0% -5% -10% -15% DEFICIT 35.2% Source: Heritage Foundation calculations based on data from Congressional Budget Office, Alternative Fiscal Scenario. 19.3% 15.9% -20% Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 3

8 THE PLAN Solve the national debt crisis, simplify taxes, reduce government spending, and make health care affordable. Our plan transforms the main federal entitlement programs Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid into real insurance programs. We provide financial security to retirees, guarantee assistance to people who need it, and reduce government payments to those who are truly prosperous. Obamacare is repealed and replaced with a system that gives consumers affordable choices among private, competing health care plans, much as federal employees have long enjoyed. The tax system is made simple and fair, with a single rate for all. Our reforms encourage businesses to invest, fueling economic growth. Complementing the aims of reforming entitlement programs (Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid), our tax plan helps Americans to save throughout their working years and achieve economic security so they won t have to depend on government in retirement. Our plan permanently balances the budget within 10 years. By immediately reducing government benefits to the wealthiest Americans, our reforms immediately begin reducing deficits that threaten the economy. We reduce government where it has exceeded the powers authorized by the Constitution. And we responsibly address ruinous public debt that will otherwise overwhelm not only ourselves but also our children and grandchildren. 4 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

9 The Heritage Plan n Balances the federal budget within a decade and keeps it balanced forever at no more than 18.5 percent of GDP. n Reduces the debt to 30 percent of GDP within 25 years and puts it on track to continue falling thereafter. n Cuts the federal government by about half within 25 years. n Stops scheduled tax increases and replaces the complex, unfair tax code with a completely new tax system. n Protects America and its interests around the globe by ensuring full funding for national defense. n Eliminates Obamacare and creates a health care system that is affordable for individuals and families. n Redesigns Social Security and Medicare as sustainable programs that truly protect seniors and will still be around for our children and grandchildren. n Provides powerful incentives for working Americans to save and invest so that they will be less dependent on government programs. By rapidly lowering total federal spending, the Heritage plan would balance the budget by 2021 and keep it there permanently, without raising taxes. Revenue and Spending as a Percentage of GDP 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% Surplus/Deficit as a Percentage of GDP 0% -5% -10% -15% SPENDING REVENUE DEFICIT 18.5% 17.7% SURPLUS 0.8% -20% Sources: Current projections: Heritage Foundation calculations based on data from Congressional Budget Office, Alternative Fiscal Scenario. Heritage Plan: Calculations by the Center for Data Analysis, The Heritage Foundation, based on baseline data in the current projections, data provided by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, and CDA policy models. Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 5

10 TAX REFORM The Heritage Plan spurs economic growth with a tax that is simple, flat, and fair and prevents future tax increases. A truly flat tax We replace today s complex mosaic of tax systems and rates with a single rate for all. The current payroll tax on workers and employers funding Medicare and Social Security is folded in. And we cap the government s take to no more than 18.5 percent of the economy the historical average. A truly simple tax system Under the Heritage plan, you re taxed only once and only on income that you spend on consumer goods and services. Money you save is not taxed until you spend it, like a giant IRA but without the complicated rules. Protection for working households No more payroll tax (for Social Security and Medicare) that hits low-income workers hardest. A health insurance tax credit provides tax relief for health care costs. And the Earned Income Tax Credit is preserved to help families with low incomes. 6 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

11 Security for low-income seniors Our plan means, unlike today where seniors with as little as $15,000 in income have their benefits taxed, low-income retirees pay no taxes on Social Security benefits. Also, any senior who works beyond retirement age pays no taxes on the first $10,000 in earnings. Business taxes that free up investment and fuel growth Our plan substantially reduces barriers to business investment and makes businesses more competitive. Businesses are taxed only on domestic income. Our plan repeals the estate tax so family businesses can pass from one generation to the next. TAX REFORM The Heritage Plan Simplifies the Tax System and Lowers Taxes Under current law, the typical American s taxes will go up in But absent spending reform, income taxes would have to rise dramatically after that. The Heritage Plan eliminates the need for tax hikes, and reforms the tax system by replacing all income and payroll taxes with a simple, flat tax with one rate for everyone. INDIVIDUAL TAX RATES 75% Marginal income tax rates Heritage flat tax 62.3% Total payroll tax rates 50% 25% 40.3% 15.3% 43.3% 15.3% 15.3% 47% 28% 25% 28% 28% 0% Current Rates 2013 (current law) 2050 (projected) Saving the American Dream Sources: Congressional Budget Office, Tax Foundation. Heritage Plan: Calculations by the Center for Data Analysis. Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 7

12 HEALTH CARE & MEDICAID REFORM Tax credits, premium assistance for low-income workers, and tax-free savings are all part of health care reform that expands consumer choices. Repeal Obamacare This ill-conceived law adds trillions of dollars in government spending to a health care system that is already unaffordable. It also increases federal controls and imposes heavy costs on states, businesses, and households. The Heritage plan repeals Obamacare and replaces it with a consumer-centered health care system that America can afford. A new tax credit for health insurance The Heritage plan provides a tax credit of $2,000 for individuals and $3,500 for families far more tax help than under current law. This can go towards a plan your employer offers you, or you can use it to buy insurance outside your workplace. Direct assistance for lower-income workers If your income is in the lower brackets, you receive premium support to buy the same health insurance as those with higher incomes can allowing those on Medicaid a better quality option. Very low-income families with children receive total assistance worth as much as $9, Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

13 Tax-free savings for health needs Under our plan, your savings for health care (or other purposes) no longer face double taxation. If you do not use all of your health credit or premium assistance for insurance, you can put the remainder in a special savings account with tax-free withdrawals. A new Medicaid safety net In 2014, the Heritage plan caps federal Medicaid spending at 2007 levels. States receive block grants and are given greater latitude to develop innovative ways to reduce costs and improve health care for the poor elderly and disabled. Based on agreed goals, this approach gives states the right incentive to pursue high-quality, innovative care. HEALTH CARE & MEDICAID REFORM The Impact of Obamacare AFP/Getty Images What does the new health care law mean for me? Whether you re a mom, an employer, or a doctor, this series provides the answer with the latest analysis and compelling stories of Americans affected by Obamacare. Experience videos, reports and more at: heritage.org/impactofobamacare Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 9

14 MEDICARE REFORM The most costly and least efficient federal entitlement, Medicare needs fundamental changes to provide truly highquality, affordable health care. A defined contribution adjusted by income The Heritage plan provides retirees with premium support payments from the government, similar to what federal employees now receive. This support is decreased for the most affluent 9 percent of retirees. Seniors may choose to use their premium support for Medicare s fee-for-service plan or private health plans. Protection against bankruptcy from medical bills In addition to the option of keeping your current health coverage or choosing a better policy, the Heritage plan includes new protection against catastrophic health care expenses to ensure that you cannot be bankrupted by huge medical bills. Medicare, at last, operates on a budget Medicare currently faces an unfunded liability of over $30 trillion. Under the Heritage plan, premium support is set based on the principle that when health plans compete, you win resulting in 10 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

15 better quality at lower costs. Our plan also caps total Medicare spending to prevent runaway costs. This gives competing plans an incentive to control their costs. Eliminate restrictions on doctor-patient arrangements Current law restricts arrangements that doctors and patients might wish to make outside of the Medicare program. The Heritage plan abolishes those restrictions so doctors are free to provide care beyond Medicare limits without Washington in the middle. New retirees can keep their existing plans During the five-year transition to full premium support, our plan requires Medicare to provide defined contributions for any retirees who want to remain in their current health plan, including employer-based coverage or other health plans. MEDICARE REFORM The Heritage Plan Would Rein in Mandatory Entitlement Spending Current Projections Spending as a Percentage of GDP 20% Heritage Plan Spending as a Percentage of GDP 20% 17.1% 15% 15% 10% Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare Subsidies, CHIP 10% 9.1% 5% 5% Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP Social Security Social Security 0% % Sources: Current projections: Heritage Foundation calculations based on data from Congressional Budget Office, Alternative Fiscal Scenario. Heritage Plan: Calculations by the Center for Data Analysis, The Heritage Foundation, based on baseline data in the current projections, data provided by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, and CDA policy models. Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 11

16 SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM The Heritage Plan transforms Social Security into true insurance that retirees can rely on, with a guarantee against poverty in retirement. A flat benefit with a guarantee against poverty The centerpiece of the Heritage plan is a flat Social Security benefit which guarantees that no retiree will ever fall into poverty. The current system offers no such guarantee. Preserving Social Security for future generations For workers born after 1985, the flatbenefit will be phased in slowly. These workers will also have greater flexibility to plan for retirement. To keep the system solvent, benefits for the wealthiest 9 percent of retirees will be reduced. This transparent reduction gives upper-income Americans more clarity than today s surreptitious tax on their benefits. The fairness and stability of a true insurance program Our plan halts the unsustainable promise of benefits to all regardless of need. We convert Social Security into true insurance that supplements income for retirees who need it. For the more affluent, benefits will be quickly restored in cases of sudden reversals. 12 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

17 A new savings plan to supplement Social Security Over a two-year period starting in 2014, first 3 percent and then 6 percent of your income will go into a retirement savings account that you own and control, like an IRA or 401(k) plan. You may save more or less, or even opt out if you choose. The money you put into these accounts will not be double-taxed. SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM Discretionary Spending Cuts Alone Are Not an Adequate Substitute for Entitlement Reform Annual spending on entitlement programs is massive compared to other federal spending priorities. Cutting discretionary spending is a necessary step, but cuts to foreign aid alone or pulling out of Afghanistan will not close the deficit. Entitlement spending must be reined in. Spending in 2011 Global War on Terrorism Foreign Aid NASA $2.4 trillion $159.3 billion $28.6 billion $19.5 billion Note: Figure for entitlements includes net interest. Without net interest, the total is $2.2 trillion. Source: White House Office of Management and Budget. Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 13

18 GOVERNMENT SPENDING REFORM To reduce the size of government and national debt, first the plan deals with entitlement reform then sets priorities in every line of the budget. Rolling back spending to 2008 levels to save trillions Government is on track to consume onethird of the economy by the time today s newborns graduate from college. Our plan rolls back non-defense discretionary spending to 2008 levels, leaving most programs larger than they were in Maintaining this freeze through 2015 helps balance the budget in 10 years. Get serious about the national debt At current spending levels, within a generation the national debt will equal 90 percent of America s economic output and it will continue rising. Under the Heritage plan, the debt falls to 30 percent within 25 years and it continues falling thereafter. Restrict the federal government to its Constitutional functions Some federal programs, such as maintaining highways and managing education, cannot be capably run from Washington. Our plan moves such state and local functions back to the states and communities where they belong. 14 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

19 Some federal programs, such as air traffic control, would be privatized. Still others, like public broadcasting subsidies, are ended altogether. Provide for the common defense with effectiveness and efficiency The most important role of the federal government is national security; it is vital to maintain sufficient military defenses. At the same time, we can cut waste from defense spending by combining duplicative programs and streamlining complex logistics then reinvesting these savings to modernize our forces. These reforms can make our military stronger, more modern, and more effective. Sell government assets to help retire debt The federal government owns huge swaths of commercial land, power generation facilities, valuable parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, underused buildings, and financial assets. Under our plan, these kind of federal assets would be sold over 15 years an integral part of our strategy to balance the budget, reduce the national debt, and focus government on its core roles. GOVERNMENT SPENDING REFORM The Heritage Plan Would Reverse Trajectory of Unsustainable Debt Without significant spending reforms, the national debt is projected to reach 185 percent of GDP by Under the Heritage plan, federal spending would be reduced by about half, which would dramatically lower our debt to 30 percent. Publicly Held Debt as a Percentage of GDP 200% 150% CURRENT PROJECTIONS 185% 100% 50% 2023: 100% HERITAGE PLAN 30% 0% Sources: Current projections: Heritage Foundation calculations based on data from Congressional Budget Office, Alternative Fiscal Scenario. Heritage Plan: Calculations by the Center for Data Analysis, The Heritage Foundation, based on baseline data in the current projections, data provided by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, and CDA policy models. Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 15

20 SavingTheDream.org makes it easy to share the Heritage plan with friends and family PERSONALIZE THE PLAN: How does the Heritage plan affect a unique group like Retirees? Or Entrepreneurs? With six distinct profiles, our web site shows that getting our national budget under control helps all Americans. SPREAD THE WORD: SavingTheDream.org is pre-loaded with short videos, custom Twitter messages, and other tools to help you raise your voice about these vital issues. GET THE FULL REPORT: To dive deeper into the policy ideas and figures of the Heritage Plan as many in government, media, and the policy community are doing download the full 52-page report online. Explore these features and more at SavingTheDream.org 16 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM

21 Don t miss these related resources from The Heritage Foundation SLAY THE BEAST: How You Can Save Us from Our Massive Debt In a fast-paced Q&A format, this booklet presents a relevant, urgent message to millennials and action steps for the next generation to make a difference. BUDGET CHART BOOK: The Federal Budget in Pictures With over 40 full-color charts, Heritage s popular Budget Chart Book provides insight into federal spending, taxes, entitlements, and the national debt in graphic detail. by BILL BEACH and ROB BLUEY SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWS & UPDATES Heritage is here to keep you informed about the budget battles raging in Washington. Get the scoop by receiving our updates via , Facebook, Twitter or all of the above. Log on to heritage.org/entitlements for these and other resources Highlights from the Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity 17

22 Inheritance? Her share of our debt is $200,000. We can fix the debt, cut government spending, and restore prosperity. Together, we can save the American Dream for all of us. 18 Saving the AMERICAN DREAM SavingTheDream.org Brought to you by The Heritage Foundation

23 The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution a think tank whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Our vision is to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish. As conservatives, we believe the values and ideas that motivated our Founding Fathers are worth conserving. As policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and values. This product is part of the Entitlements and Health Care Initiatives, two of 10 Transformational Initiatives making up The Heritage Foundation s Leadership for America campaign. For more products and information related to these Initiatives or to learn more about the Leadership for American campaign, please visit heritage.org. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington, D.C (202) heritage.org

24 FIND SOLUTIONS INSIDE FOR Tax Reform Health Care Reform Government Spending Medicare Medicaid Social Security savingthedream.org