California Young Republicans Inc.

QUESTION: There are a lot of details in the plan about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but what about other areas of our Federal Government? 

PAUL RYAN’S RESPONSE: “The Roadmap focuses on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid because they represent the key components of our social safety net and are the central drivers of our fiscal crisis. If nothing is done to control their growth, they will continue to crowd out spending on other important government priorities, such as national defense, education, and infrastructure. Today, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid account for 8.4 percent of GDP. If no policy changes are made, they will consume 18.6 percent of gross domestic product [GDP] in 2050, and 25.7 percent of GDP in 2082. Historically, total government spending is about 20 percent of GDP. The Roadmap is a comprehensive reform proposal, tackling the interrelated nature of our fiscal and economic challenges.  It achieves universal access to quality, affordable health coverage, reforms the cumbersome and anticompetitive tax code, offers a 21^st century approach to federal job training programs, and puts in place budget process reforms to get a grip on government spending.”