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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRead some Dem comments about Chained CPI. Let's not pretend it won't pass. It might.
It does represent a cut to Social Security. That is not a stance I expect from Democrats. Many of these statements from Democrats in Congress lack a real stance against this new way of figuring the COLA.
The most disturbing one to me is by Nancy Pelosi.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), however, said this week that she did not consider chained CPI a benefit cut and that she could get enough Democrats to support it.
More:
Chained CPI Not A Deal Breaker For Many Democrats
When asked during the conference by The Huffington Post if they would vote against such a deal, they did not say they would.
"It is conceivable that you could have a package that is attractive in so many other ways that you might swallow it," Frank said, "but here's the problem ... there are going to have to be compromises in other areas, and what we are saying is this one for many of us is a deal breaker, or close to a deal breaker by itself, and so it might could well be part of a broader package, but that broader package ain't gonna be no Christmas present."
Close to a dealbreaker? Not good enough.
"What we're saying here today is a deal is not done yet," Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said at the presser. "And so there is still time in the negotiations, because we want to make it clear both to the president and to our leadership that the chained CPI is an inaccurate reflection of what real living costs are for our seniors, and would result in a real benefit cut for them."
There should be no deal on the table. Rep. Edwards, I am quite sure the president and leadership are well-versed on the Chained CPI. It should not be on the table.
I heard Chris Van Hollen on MSNBC last night. He did not sound very convincing at all about being opposed to this deal.
This post in the comments caught my eye. I agree.
Social Security does not belong in this discussion. It does not and has not contributed to our debt. This is simply an excuse to cut a program that is unrelated to the problem.
Cutting Social Security to fix the deficit is like invading Iraq to get Bin Laden. It's simply an excuse to pursue a hidden agenda.
The Democratic think tanks have considered this method for quite a while. These think tanks usually get their policies enacted because they have the money, and money is power.
The Third Way openly and proudly included this last year when they openly and proudly presented their plans for Social Security reform.
It was put on the table by Democrats.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)cui bono
(19,926 posts)Much like climate change deniers they keep saying it hasn't happened yet, when I see it then it will be true. Well by then it will be too late.
Take heed now and at least make some phone calls to your senators and rep and the WH. You can't be too careful. If it does pass and you did nothing to stop it how will you feel?
If it doesn't pass, all the better.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)The ridicule won't stop, I mean. I see sort of an image of how some of us were in 2003, those of us who supported Howard Dean. Got a little carried away. I see something similar now. Dean's a good guy, but he's a politician first in many ways.
I now admit I was wrong to be so enthusiastic. And this administration's casual attitude toward the safety net for the elderly, and his lack of understanding on the harm being done to education....need to be questioned. Those of us who do so will just have to take the criticism.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)lbrtbell
(2,389 posts)Now Obama wants to destroy Social Security.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)And Nancy Pelosi cares about nothing but enriching herself.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Disappeared quickly.