House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R‑WI) is proposing reforms to Medicare and Medicaid as part of his budget proposal for fiscal 2012. Readers who are interested in getting a better understanding of these pillars of the federal welfare state should check out two Cato essays on our Downsizing Government website.

An essay on Medicare explains the program’s numerous shortcomings and an essay on Medicaid examines that program’s flaws. Suggested reforms in the essays are similar to reforms in Rep. Ryan’s proposal, including converting Medicaid to a block-grant program.