Why Democrats Might Cave On Social Security Cuts

[UCmeNdc]

Also speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) explicitly offered up trading some of the short-term cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act, known as the sequester, for long-term Social Security and Medicare cuts. He argued that Republicans had the tactical advantage on such an exchange.


snip

"Social Security is gonna run out of money in 20 years," Durbin (D)-IL said. "The Baby Boom generation is gonna blow away our future. We don't wanna see that happen."

Snip

Social Security will not run out of money in 20 years. The program currently enjoys a surplus of more than $2 trillion. Social Security will, however, be unable to pay all benefits at current levels if nothing is changed. If a 25 percent benefit cut were implemented in 20 years, the program would be solvent into the 2080s.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/20/democrats-social-security-cuts_n_4132087.html

Increase the Social Security payroll cap and the program will be in the black forever.

[mgcgulfcoast]

1. we dont need to cave on anything

stomp the republicans into dust.

[Turbineguy]

2. The sooner the better

that way there will be plenty of money to raise it when Paul Ryan approaches his time to collect.

[regnaD kciN]

3. If you notice, Durbin actually REJECTED…

...the idea of SS cuts in exchange for reductions to the sequester.

[grantcart]

4. There will be no big concessions from either side

but the Democrats are particularly not going to concede any major points on Social Security.

For the next year it is all about setting up the next House election and the Democrats would love to make the election all about the GE.

[on point]

5. No. Willing to trade defense cuts for higher taxes on the wealthy

[riversedge]

6. What is the holdback about increasing the payroll cap??

[snappyturtle]

7. Agreed. nt

[tokenlib]

8. the thirty year old phobia over the "tax and spend liberal" charge..

Common sense is out the door..all we can do is cut, cut, cut ..

[UCmeNdc]

9. No one wants to bring up this idea

Since it will actually solve the problem

[okaawhatever]

10. The addition of 3% to Medicare tax is in fact, increasing the payroll

cap and there isn't a new cap at 10 or 20 million. That's a huge chunk for the one percenters. There is a great deal of revenue coming in to help shore up Medicare and the ACA. While SS needs to be dealt with, Medicare was in worse shape so the one percenters are paying more, so I imagine we'll have to wait until next election cycle to see any other increase.