Pelosi, Dems signal openness to Social Security changes

[Better Believe It]

Pelosi, Dems signal openness to Social Security changes
By Jill Jackson, Patrick Tricker
CBS News
July 8, 2011

For the first time today, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi did not rule out changing the way the government calculates annual cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients. The possible change, adamantly opposed by progressives in the Democratic caucus, could make payments to retirees smaller.

As negotiations over deficit reduction and raising the debt ceiling continue, Pelosi reiterated today that Democrats are opposed to making cuts to Social Security benefits.

When asked if changing the Social Security formula for cost of living adjustments was a de facto benefit cut, Pelosi did not directly answer.

"No. Cutting benefits is exactly that. Cutting benefits," Pelosi said. "There's concern in my caucus about what would happen with the CPI (consumer price index). Some think it is a benefit cut, others do not."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20077942-503544.html

[northoftheborder]

1. color me "confused"

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Color me 'not surprised'. nt

[thewiseguy]

2. I like it how there was not any debate on that huge defense spending bill

[slipslidingaway]

6. + 649 Billion n/t

[defendandprotect]

15. Yikes !!! ---

[slipslidingaway]

22. Thread ...

:hi:

House passes $649 Billion defense spending bill

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1442755&mesg_id=1442755

money spent on wars and defense does not get as much attention as it did under Bush.

[defendandprotect]

25. Imagine the Democrats put up a big fight, right ... ????

[slipslidingaway]

26. As usual - a big fight :( n/t

[xchrom]

7. Indeed. Nt

[msongs]

3. she should ask president boner for clarification lol nt

[WillyT]

4. K & R !!!

:kick:

:wtf:

[kath]

8. Jeebus. Wasn't there a thread earlier TODAY that said they WEREN'T willing to go w/the chained CPI?

So sick of these spineless mofos

[hootinholler]

9. Do the math Nancy

Are the adjusted dollars more or less next year, or 3 years out, or...?

If it is less, it's a cut.

-Hoot

[BlueIdaho]

10. Now we see the price Nancy had to pay to get back to the grown-ups table

After being frozen out of the last two big negotiations Pelosi finally has a chair at this summers biggest bash and all she had to do was sell out the people that elected her to office.

Looks like she's learning from our multiple-dimensional chess master.

[woo me with science]

11. This is how they are going to cut Social Security and then deny it.

War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.

[LiberalAndProud]

12. defeat

I'll wait, but it would seem that Nancy failed to rearrange the table settings. We refuse to save ourselves from ourselves.

Changing the word won't change the meaning.

[Karmadillo]

13. Did they signal openness to defense budget cuts and an end to our six wars?

nt

[LooseWilly]

14. It's like "public-option dejavú"...

... but maybe on a slightly accelerated schedule. I guess the kinks of capitulation have been worked out and now it's down to a smooth art. :+

[LiberalAndProud]

16. It is, isn't it?

Nancy comes in with both guns ablazin' and comes out toeing the line. Again. How long did that take? an hour?

[woo me with science]

17. The change is remarkable isn't it?

Almost as though they had her replaced.

[NCarolinawoman]

18. LOL. I did think her hair looked a bit askew during that press conference.

I hope someone leaks what really took place during that meeting.:hide:

[Liberalynn]

19. Thanks for the laugh

I needed it.

[LooseWilly]

20. Matter of hours for Pelosi to come around, rather than days...

Suppose that means that it'll be a matter of days before Obama and Pelosi can beat the Progressive Caucus in the House into submission, as it was a matter of weeks on the public-option.

I guess I'll make those same calls to my rep as before... and she'll probably stand strong for a while. Maybe she'll even stand the Kucinich-esque distance.

Unfortunately, once Obama has his mind set on some bit of capitulation, that's when he shows off his skills...

[Better Believe It]

21. Pelosi does a flip, flop on proposed CPI Social Security cut

Nancy Pelosi rules out changing the way the CPI is measured.
No she doesn't. Flip,flop! BBI

Pelosi Reassures House Democrats Inflation Measure Switch Not Likely
By Kristina Peterson and Corey Boles, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
July 8, 2011

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) reassured angry House Democrats that a proposal to change a key measure of inflation linked to Social Security was not likely to be part of a debt ceiling deal, lawmakers said Friday.

Pelosi calmed Democrats upset over a proposal to change how the Consumer Price Index is calculated that would curb Social Security benefits, dimming the prospects of an idea once floated as an area of bipartisan support.

But speaking at a press conference shortly after the meeting with her caucus broke up, Pelosi didn't rule out changing the way the CPI is measured. She did say that any savings that were generated for the federal government as a result would have to be reinvested in the Social Security program. Pelosi also said it's possible that the move could be phased in over time, accompanied by protection for the poorest Americans.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/pelosi-on-key-social-security-cut-the-dirty-rotten-devils-in-the-dirty-rotten-details.php

[Cleita]

23. Great! Not!

The COLA already is calculated by how much junk seniors can buy or the consumer price index, but it doesn't measure what we really are consuming, which is medical supplies not covered by Medicare or prescription benefits. It also doesn't include food, rent and utilities. So sure stuff from China and elsewhere is cheaper so we don't get a COLA raise. I don't know how they could make our payments any smaller.

[WinkyDink]

24. And I was mocked for questioning Pelosi's word.

[somone]

27. The choreography sounds suspiciously familiar

Yep, deja vu

[woo me with science]

28. Isn't it? It's like an old, familiar dance.

And we are starting to see the next steps of the dance on DU, too - the shift by some from denying the policy will ever happen to arguing that it's really not so bad.

[somone]

30. Yep, same ol' dog-eared script

It's either from a tenacious belief system or a regular Third Way paycheck

[woo me with science]

31. What I don't understand

is how you can be tombstoned from DU for supporting other RW beliefs, yet somehow it's going to be okay to shill for policies that will cause our most vulnerable seniors to move from bologna to oatmeal, or from oatmeal to cat food.

[blkmusclmachine]

29. Don't believe anything Ms. Pelosi says.

Just. Don't. Do. It.