Leading House Democrats say Social Security cuts are a nonstarter

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/168011-house-democrats-draw-the-line-at-social-security-cuts

Some leading House Democrats warned Wednesday that Social Security cuts are a nonstarter as lawmakers search for places to slash trillions of dollars in federal spending.

And they aren’t mincing words.

“You want a fight?” Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) said during a press conference in the Capitol. “If anybody in this building wants to take on Social Security — privatize it, change the benefits by altering the consumer price index or by any other method — know this: You’ve got a fight on your hands.”

(snip)
“Social Security has not contributed to these deficits,” Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said Wednesday. “Why should Social Security … cover the costs of the real drivers of the deficits, which were the Bush tax cuts, the unpaid wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and … the recession?”

[DesertFlower]

1. actually they've taken money from

the social security fund. i say "time to pay it back".

[dkf]

6. They are talking about what happens after the bonds representing the surplus are gone.

Frankly if the economy doesn't pick up those funds are going to run out even sooner.

[xchrom]

2. & Medicare & Medicaid? Nt

[AlabamaLibrul]

3. Well then here's to them sticking to it

:toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I like those fighting words.

Now, let's see them back them up with fighting actions.

Recommended.

[The Second Stone]

5. That's my congressman

Go John!

[GreenStormCloud]

7. For the last two years there has not been a COLA increase in SS.

Every year SS has been adjusted upwards as a cost-of-living-allowance increase to keep it current with inflation. But in 2010 & 2011 there was no COLA and SS was kept at 2009 levels. Of course food prices have been going up, as has just about everything else, so the actual effect on seniors is the same as a cut in 2010 & 2011. The 2012 COLA is predicted to be only 1.4% which will be wiped out by the Medicare premium increase.

[indepat]

8. Er, should that not be the Bush, now Obama tax cuts?

:shrug: