White House Suggests Social Security Cuts Remain 'On The Table'

[HomerRamone]

Here we go...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/white-house-social-security-cuts-on-the-table

Even though President Barack Obama's formal budget proposal Tuesday omitted cuts to Social Security, the White House strongly suggested that a controversial policy to cut the program "remains on the table" if Republicans are willing to compromise.

"In last year's Budget, the President included a compromise proposal intended as a show of good faith to spark additional negotiations with Congressional Republicans about the nation’s long-term deficits and debt and to encourage all parties to come together to remove the economically-damaging sequestration cuts," the White House said in a fact sheet that accompanied its budget release. "Although that compromise proposal remains on the table, given Congressional Republicans' unwillingness to negotiate a balanced long-term deficit reduction deal, the President’s 2015 Budget returns to a more traditional Budget presentation that is focused on achieving the President’s vision for the best path to create growth and opportunity for all Americans, and the investments needed to meet that vision."

The "compromise proposal" is a thinly veiled reference to a policy known as Chained CPI, which slows the rate of inflation for Social Security benefits. The White House included the proposal in its budget released in 2013 as an olive branch to Republicans. Obama made clear he wouldn't support it without new tax revenues in the mix, which the GOP refused to accept. Liberal advocates had also mobilized against the proposal. But senior administration officials made clear that while Chained CPI is not a policy that the president ideally wants, he's still willing to support it if Republicans reciprocate with tax revenues.

Obama's decision to drop Chained CPI from his budget was criticized by Republicans. "This reaffirms what has become all too apparent: the president has no interest in doing anything, even modest, to address our looming debt crisis," said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). "The one and only idea the president has to offer is even more job-destroying tax hikes, and that non-starter won’t do anything to save the entitlement programs that are critical to so many Americans. With three years left in office, it seems the president is already throwing in the towel."

[MannyGoldstein]

1. I, for one, look forward to this discussion

Certainly, every thoughtful American knows that Social Security needs to be slashed cut reformed strengthened.

That's the word, strengthened.

So that future generations will have at least a little bit left. And so Pete Peterson and other patriotic zillionaires can grab the three trillion in savings currently sitting in the Social Security Trust Fund.

Regards,

TWM

[Omaha Steve]

2. What else is left to give away through compromise?

I think we are running out over the next two years.

[Faryn Balyncd]

5. We are close to the bottom, and

..one might think that might be a hint to change tactics.

[99th_Monkey]

3. WTF is wrong with our Dem POTUS Obama?

How can ANY supposed "Democrat" say this shit, and still hold their head up???
... much less a sitting Dem POTUS.

This is totally sick.

How do the Obama-right-or-wrong peeps on DU explain this?

I'm still waiting.

[VanillaRhapsody]

6. dog gone....have you not absorbed anything about this man yet?

He doesn't telegraph his punches.....he has a knack for keeping the R's off their games by doing the unexpected....and then he pulls the rug out from under them

Obama is like Lucy with the football and they are Charlie Brown!

[TransitJohn]

4. Chess Move™ eom

n/t

[msongs]

7. one never hears obama vowing to protect and defend and improve social security, does one? nt

[Ino]

8. Lest anyone forgets...

Claire McCaskill (D-MO) supports this chained CPI crap.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/mccaskill-joins-senate-gop-in-deficit-reduction-bill/article_fc2fc4c3-b5dc-5bee-b629-4bd56eddf62b.html

"McCaskill introduced on Tuesday anti-deficit legislation that could impose automatic cuts in Social Security and other entitlement programs. McCaskill, of Missouri, was the only Democrat to join with a group of Republicans to press for a far-reaching debt reduction plan that would tie federal spending to the nation's economic ouput. McCaskill is a chief sponsor with Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. No Democrat other than McCaskill has stepped forward to support the plan, suggesting that it could encounter stiff opposition in the Democratic-run Senate. Politicians typically shy away from proposals to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid because of the backlash that arrives from all directions."

McCaskill teams up with GOP on radical bill to slash Social Security, Medicare
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/03/940951/-McCaskill-teams-up-with-GOP-on-radical-bill-to-slash-Social-Security-Medicare

[Samantha]

10. If McCaskill is so willing to pay the price to cut the deficit

why didn't she introduce a bill to cut the wages and benefits of Senators and Congressional members?

Sam

[TheBlackAdder]

9. Relax guys...

As General Ackbar would say, "It's a Trap!"