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Yonnie3

(17,376 posts)
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:08 PM Feb 2017

Trump budget plan will not cut Social Security, Medicare: Mnuchin

Source: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump's first budget proposal will spare big social welfare programs such as Social Security and Medicare from any cuts, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Mnuchin said Trump would use a major policy speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night to preview some elements of his sweeping plans to cut taxes for the middle class, simplify the tax system and make American companies more globally competitive with lower rates and changes to encourage U.S. manufacturing.

Speaking on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" program, Mnuchin, who has acknowledged that tax reform is his top policy priority, said the budget plan would not seek cuts to federal benefits programs known as "entitlements."

"We are not touching those now. So don't expect to see that as part of this budget, OK," Mnuchin said of the programs, according to a transcript provided by Fox. "We are very focused on other aspects and that's what's very important to us. And that's the president's priority."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-economy-idUSKBN1650LL



Adding my comment which I forgot:

After hearing what Paul Ryan has said about Medicare and Social Security, I don't find Mnuchin's statement very reassuring. If he had said President Trump will veto any legislation that affects present and future Medicare or Social Security benefits I would feel a bit better.
32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump budget plan will not cut Social Security, Medicare: Mnuchin (Original Post) Yonnie3 Feb 2017 OP
And something completely the opposite will be said by the Trumpy's administration tomorrow. Crowman2009 Feb 2017 #1
The attacks on SS and Medicade will come from Congress Cosmocat Feb 2017 #2
Social Security and Medicare are earned benefits, not entitlements LastLiberal in PalmSprings Feb 2017 #10
I don't even like it when they call them murielm99 Feb 2017 #12
Yea regular social security is earned but my guess is they will first attack those on disability cstanleytech Feb 2017 #14
Social Security Is Not A Defined Contribution Plan... TomCADem Feb 2017 #16
FYI, the true definition of "entitlement" is earned benefit, as opposed to welfare program - the Kashkakat v.2.0 Feb 2017 #17
Right Cosmocat Feb 2017 #21
The legal underpinnings of Social Security FogerRox Feb 2017 #29
Exactly. And it's full of and run by extremists who've Hortensis Feb 2017 #15
In other words Lotusflower70 Feb 2017 #3
Appears to be the game plan. Wellstone ruled Feb 2017 #5
This coming from (Steve Mnuchin) the bastard who brought us the last recession. Crowman2009 Feb 2017 #4
Weasel words not fooled Feb 2017 #32
Anyone want to place a wager? n/t hibbing Feb 2017 #6
any word on their adding the Wall to the budget or the additional ICE personnel? KewlKat Feb 2017 #7
"Step right up, Sonny, and guess which.. TheCowsCameHome Feb 2017 #8
Cutting The Muppets isn't going to pay for massive tax cuts and defense buildup BeyondGeography Feb 2017 #9
"We are not touching those now." Liberalagogo Feb 2017 #11
Now equals this morning. Yonnie3 Feb 2017 #13
NOW is the operative word, next we will hear everything is on the table, reeks of BS!!! FreeStateDemocrat Feb 2017 #20
Everything they say is a lie. They're gunning for grandma. Vinca Feb 2017 #18
MNUCHIN- dont tell us, tell Paul Ryan. You 2 need to talk. nt Kashkakat v.2.0 Feb 2017 #19
His words are to appease an angry public... defacto7 Feb 2017 #22
"We are not touching those now" Wait until after the 2018 election. sarcasmo Feb 2017 #23
add YET. pansypoo53219 Feb 2017 #24
KGOP knows a chained CPI and coming inflation will be tantamount to cuts. mobeau69 Feb 2017 #25
The reason they are known as ENTITLEMENTS is because people are ENTITLED to these benefits because still_one Feb 2017 #26
Needs more money for the wealthy corporations liberal N proud Feb 2017 #27
More LIES! coco22 Feb 2017 #28
"We are not touching those now." NOW. not EVER. Merlot Feb 2017 #30
They don't realize how bad this looks jmowreader Feb 2017 #31

Crowman2009

(2,475 posts)
1. And something completely the opposite will be said by the Trumpy's administration tomorrow.
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:10 PM
Feb 2017

These fuckers are all over the place.

10. Social Security and Medicare are earned benefits, not entitlements
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:24 PM
Feb 2017

We need to keep repeating this over and over.

Also, the Social Security Trust Fund is separate from the Federal Budget.

The GOPers keep framing it the other way.

murielm99

(30,655 posts)
12. I don't even like it when they call them
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:39 PM
Feb 2017

social welfare programs. Throwing around the word "welfare" is a red flag to the right wing.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
14. Yea regular social security is earned but my guess is they will first attack those on disability
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 04:02 PM
Feb 2017

probably with things like drug testing at first followed by closing alot of the social security buildings across the country to make it more difficult for people to both apply for and file appeals with like what the Repugnants did in Alabama did to make it hard for black and poor voter's to get a valid ID to meet the states voter ID law.

TomCADem

(17,378 posts)
16. Social Security Is Not A Defined Contribution Plan...
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 04:16 PM
Feb 2017

...the benefits are set irrespective of what returns are earned.

Kashkakat v.2.0

(1,752 posts)
17. FYI, the true definition of "entitlement" is earned benefit, as opposed to welfare program - the
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 04:18 PM
Feb 2017

RW has demonized the word, and changed it to mean unearned .... but the true meaning is the opposite. We are "entitled" to SS, medicare, workers comp etc. because we paid into it, iwe earned it, and its not something "given to" us out of the general revenue.

I think its important to remain cognizant of how they twist around the meanings of words and use them against us.

ETA - after googling/looking around at definitions I think I'll go along with your phrase "earned benefits" - the RW trashing of the word "entitlement" has been going on for so long, since reagan if not before, its prob too late to reclaim it.

Still I think its worth thinking about how words are used/misused as weapons sometimes.

FogerRox

(13,211 posts)
29. The legal underpinnings of Social Security
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 11:45 PM
Feb 2017

are based on the word entitled, it appears in the original 1935 law 9 times.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
15. Exactly. And it's full of and run by extremists who've
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 04:09 PM
Feb 2017

been wanting to get entirely rid of both programs for decades. All action taken will be to further those ends.

not fooled

(5,791 posts)
32. Weasel words
Mon Feb 27, 2017, 01:31 PM
Feb 2017

"We" = dump's Exec branch, not Congress

are not touching those "now" = at this moment. Waiting for the right moment to try.


The public will be watching.

KewlKat

(5,624 posts)
7. any word on their adding the Wall to the budget or the additional ICE personnel?
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:21 PM
Feb 2017

I can't watch faux.....so those with a stronger stomach that did, did he mention the above?

TheCowsCameHome

(40,161 posts)
8. "Step right up, Sonny, and guess which..
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:22 PM
Feb 2017

..shell has the pea under it"

"Oops, sorry, it looks like you guessed wrong m'boy- care to try your luck again?"

BeyondGeography

(39,276 posts)
9. Cutting The Muppets isn't going to pay for massive tax cuts and defense buildup
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 03:24 PM
Feb 2017

Something will have to give.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
22. His words are to appease an angry public...
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 04:57 PM
Feb 2017

to save a few GOP votes and advance his smoke screen.
The operative words are really "for now" . For now is all that really counts in this. And "for now" really means this moment that he's saying it.. maybe till after his speech.
In essence, means nothing.

mobeau69

(11,074 posts)
25. KGOP knows a chained CPI and coming inflation will be tantamount to cuts.
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 09:19 PM
Feb 2017

Look out for their chained CPI proposal and raise hell.

still_one

(91,937 posts)
26. The reason they are known as ENTITLEMENTS is because people are ENTITLED to these benefits because
Sun Feb 26, 2017, 09:32 PM
Feb 2017

they have been paying into these programs for decades.

I am so tired of how they try to change the connotation of the word entitlement as something bad. It isn't

People pay into an annuity, and are entitled to certain benefits. It is a contract for gosh sakes

Merlot

(9,696 posts)
30. "We are not touching those now." NOW. not EVER.
Mon Feb 27, 2017, 01:51 AM
Feb 2017

That "now" makes it pretty obvious they will get to it, sooner or later.

jmowreader

(50,447 posts)
31. They don't realize how bad this looks
Mon Feb 27, 2017, 05:18 AM
Feb 2017

There's a president who wants to spend money like an aircraft carrier full of drunken sailors on shore leave.

A treasury secretary who wants to drastically cut taxes.

An administration who is planning to bleed dry every non-defense program we have to pay for Trump's profligacy, not realizing that even if we stopped spending money on anything but the army there's not enough money to do what Trump wants.

And a Republican majority in both elected branches who is champing at the bit to eliminate Social Security and Medicare, held back only in the knowledge if they fucked with either Social Security or Medicare Trump would be staring down the barrel of 57 Senate Democrats, about four hundred House Democrats, and at least ten Senate Republicans who have been told in no uncertain terms, "it's either him or you."

The only realistic answer to the obvious question - "what in hell are these assholes doing?" - is simple: They are fully prepared to blow a hole in the deficit that's roughly the width of the Indian Ocean, and they're going to try to blame it on Obama.

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