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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumssenate dems divided over cuts to benefit programs
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FISCAL_CLIFF_ENTITLEMENTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-11-28-08-12-26WASHINGTON (AP) -- Deep divisions among Senate Democrats over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to slow the government's mushrooming debt pose a big obstacle to a deal for avoiding a potentially economy-crushing "fiscal cliff," even if Republicans agree to raise taxes.
Much of the focus during negotiations seeking an alternative to $671 billion in automatic tax increases and spending cuts beginning in January has centered on whether Republicans would agree to raising taxes on the wealthy. President Barack Obama has insisted repeatedly that tax increases on the wealthy must be part of any deal, even as White House officials concede that government benefit programs will have to be in the package too.
"It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday, referring to the mammoth Social Security and Medicare programs.
But even if GOP lawmakers agree to raise taxes, there is no guarantee Democrats can come up with enough votes in the Senate to cut benefit programs - as Republicans are demanding.
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senate dems divided over cuts to benefit programs (Original Post)
xchrom
Nov 2012
OP
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)1. There shouldn't be any DEmocrats with disagreements........period.
still_one
(92,395 posts)2. Medicare is not a benefit it is an entitlement we pay into and therefore are entitled to. Medicaid
saves money, because without it people would be treated in the emergency room which would be even more costly
former-republican
(2,163 posts)3. what are their names?
OldDem2012
(3,526 posts)4. Sounds like a propaganda piece designed to split the Democratic Party....
...and weaken it during negotiations to resolve the "fiscal cliff" issue.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)5. But,,,,,,but,,,,,,