Chris Van Hollen Says He’s Open To Cutting Social Security And Medicare Benefits — Tell Him No

[Report1212]

The link to call his office is in the blog post

--

As part of an event with the Wall Street Journal and corporate leaders, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD) — a leading Democrat and ranking member of the House Budget Committee — indicated that he thinks cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits should be part of the upcoming deficit negotiations:

On Capitol Hill, it isn’t clear how strenuously Democrats will resist cutting entitlements. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.) said he and others were open to changes as long as they were done in a measured way and were part of deal that included tax increases. Mr. Van Hollen also said changing Social Security and increasing the Medicare eligibility age above 65 should be part of negotiations.

“I’m willing to consider all of these ideas as part of an overall plan,” Mr. Van Hollen said Tuesday at the Journal’s CEO Council.

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/chris-van-hollen-indicates-hes-open-to-cutting-social-security-and-medicare-tell-him-no/

[forestpath]

1. I've got whiplash. I just saw Debbie Wasserman Schultz say "We don't need to be looking

at cuts" on MSNBC.

She even reiterated it when she was questioned about it.

Now this? What are we supposed to think, you know?

[Report1212]

2. Well they're two different people

The point is to eventually get them to line up on the same page: No cuts.

[forestpath]

3. I don't trust Van Hollen, I've seen him before being questioned about SS/Medicare cuts.

And he wouldn't give a straight answer, so I kinda knew where he stood.

[patrice]

12. Thanks for keeping us aprised of that situation. We should make a special case out of VanHollen.

[DJ13]

15. I think he's a Third Way member

or at least sympathetic to their fiscal conservatism.

He has never seemed to have any real convictions of his own.

[CBHagman]

23. His voting record and interest group ratings from Project Vote Smart...

...suggest otherwise.

[url]http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/6098/chris-van-hollen-jr#.UKQDUq6OtK0[/url]

[patrice]

6. PO just said in his press conference tha the MC will NOT pay for what needs to be done. 1% taxes

won't hurt them, and combined with what he's already doing, not extending the Bush Tax Cuts to those who don't need the money can result in the "fiscal cliff" we're hearing about being actually more like 1/2 of the size that some are claiming it is.

[forestpath]

8. I know he did, I am not questioning him, I am questioning why these Congresspeople

are singing two different songs.

[patrice]

11. Yes. Good! I'm just spreading the word about that press conference. PO on the job!

[forestpath]

13. ITA, I really enjoyed that, he was on fire!

[patrice]

33. He sounded rested-up and ready to go! Very focused smart answers all of the way!

He's a pleasure to listen to even when one kind of doesn't trust him on some stuff because of the situation that all of us are in, 'cause he's "government", you know, after-all.

[patrice]

9. P.S. He also spoke of his great arithmetic confidence that his approach can and will work well for

everyone.

IOW, It's all very fixable if people'd stop fighting about it, though stand the line on the most concrete things having to do with family & community.

[patrice]

4. Kicking!

[Mojorabbit]

5. Would someone put up his contact info?

We can stArt emailing and calling his office. My computer is running like molasses today. I don't know what the prob is or I would go searching myself.

[LiberalEsto]

21. He misrepresents Maryland's 8th District

http://vanhollen.house.gov/contact/

[hootinholler]

22. Here ya go

[phone]

Not jsut SS but he said it's ok to raise Medicare age

[BlueMan Votes]

7. what does Social Security have to do with the deficit..?

absolutely NUTHIN'.

SAY it again...

[datasuspect]

10. they are all pigs

they all feed at the samee trough.

they don't give a fuck about you.

[kentuck]

14. So he joins Chuck Shumer...

and others. This does not help our case, in my opinion.

[Liberalynn]

17. I wrote to Chuckie earlier today

usually I get an answer which is something I actually admire about him.

I was respectful but reiterated that the Democrats need to stand united and firm against cuts to Medicare or SS.

I called him Senator in the letter by the way and normally refer to him that way out of respect. I am just ticked off at him right now.

[Liberalynn]

29. Just called Chuckie

to say no too. Also called Senator Gillibrand's office and asked her to continue to oppose cuts to Medicare and SS no matter who calls for them even if it is Senator Schumer.

[AnnaLee]

16. If you look at where his district is:

District map I think it is understandable. He probably has a lot of contractors in his area (and government employees). People working for contractors might lose their jobs if they decide to step off the curb (fall off the cliff). Sometimes the parties check and make sure they have a huge majority on an issue then allow some members to have slightly different stands. (I don't really know; I lived in MD for years but not in his district.)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. His district is actually pretty large and VERY diverse. I think we need to wait for facts before

jumping to conclusions based on mere conjecture.

[Glitterati]

18. When Chris Van Hollen cuts HIS benefits FIRST

Then, I'll be happy to discuss cutting MY benefits.

After yours are cut to the EXACT same levels as my current benefits.

When Mr. Van Hollen can prove he can live on $1309.00 per month, we will discuss a cut.

[LiberalEsto]

19. I worked on his first campaign for that congressional seat

and I am totally disgusted with this. Am no longer in his district, but I'm embarrassed that I ever voted for that turncoat.

[Report1212]

24. Then make a call! nt

[LiberalEsto]

30. I just called and was told he was "MISREPRESENTED"

I asked how he was "misrepresented" and the woman answering the phone said he was "open to discussions" on the issue, but "not open to making these cuts".

I told her that this is not even a subject that needs to be discussed. President Obama won; he has a mandate, and he doesn't need to listen to the Republicans about this.

[and-justice-for-all]

37. That is what I got when I called just now..

he has been "misrepresented"

[Luminous Animal]

45. Thank you for calling. In my opinion, the reply was bullshit.

[Oilwellian]

20. This is a feeler folks

Let's let them feel our wrath over this insane idea.

[GoCubsGo]

25. I agree.

The Dems need to know whether or not the rethugs are going to continue to dig in their heels and obstruct the President at every turn. They need to know what kind of preparations to make in the event that they don't. It also allows them to scope out which, if any, rethug congresspeople who might be willing to work with them.

[Liberalynn]

32. called Schumer and Gillibrand and said we voted against cuts when we voted against the Republicans

we shouldn't have to keep reminding our own party that those are earned and paid for benefits that have nothing to do with the deficit.

I trust Gillibrand but I don't think I trust Chuck not to bend on this.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. Van Hollen is my congressman and he represents one of the most liberal districts in MD.

There's no way in hell that he was suggesting cutting benefits, that is, if he wants to keep his day job. We are very politically active in this district.

I don't believe that he was offering this suggestion. I believe that--once again--the liberal intellectual establishment is making assumptions not based in fact. This is mere speculation.

[Report1212]

27. He told the Wall Street Journal forum he is open to ...

raising the Medicare age.

[LiberalEsto]

31. He's a jerk. The Medicare age needs to be lowered

not raised.
Lowered so everyone is covered.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. I did see that statement. I did not, however, see any specific statement on cutting benefits.

It is the WSJ. And again, until I see a specific plan, I'm not going ape shit over this.

I say again, Van Hollen represents one of the most liberal districts in the state of Maryland, and the people in this district are very well informed and politically active. (Montgomery County sent more activists to VA to GOTV than any other county in Maryland, for instance.)

Van Hollen will pay if he goes down this road. Trust me.

[Samantha]

47. I live in College Park, MD (not Montgomery County) but I am with you

And I am serious.

Sam

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

49. I used to live in CP when I was in grad school at UMCP. That means you got Steny Hoyer. He's been

moderately liberal. I hope he will exercise his leadership acumen and reject any proposal that cuts benefits.

[Samantha]

52. I am worried about him

He is too much of a yes man. I think he would give away the store if the right person asked him.

I had an issue some time ago about the chained cola formula and I started to send my research to him. For some reason, I felt pretty sure he would not pick up the ball and run with it. I sent it to Bernie Sanders instead. Two days later, he was all over the place blasting it, and he has not let up since.

Sam

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. I love Bernie. Met him on Capitol Hill at this restaurant last year. This was before he had planned

to do his 10-hour filibuster. I thanked him for everything. He was kind, gracious and very appreciative of those who support him.

[JoePhilly]

34. I have a mint condition limited edition Babe Ruth rookie baseball card ...

And I'm willing to discuss trading it.

What's your offer?

Ohhh ... and so clearly, through my willingness to discuss such a trade .... You should now conclude that I hate Babe Ruth, and I really really want to get rid of his baseball card.

[TheKentuckian]

50. There might be a "right" offer for your baseball, that doesn't prevent it from being your most

prized possession. It doesn't mean you wish to part with it but it is not just possible but actually reasonably plausible that what can be exchanged for that ball would be a near shot at improving your quality of life substantially and all you give up is a bauble you really like.

Now, over here we are talking things beyond even quality of life. In a conversation about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (particularly when we are trying to expand coverage in part relying on the program) are literal LIFELINES. Not just for some but for most of us.
This is roofs over heads, food in stomachs, life saving care. This is about wages over an entire lifetime. This is about opportunities available. This is about years of desperation, fear, and hanging on hoping to make it. This is about burdening families. This is about increasing unemployment on a generational basis.

Hell, this it about the years of our lives and the quality of those years.

Putting aside the revulsion of comparing our life lines to a ball on a shelf for a moment, what plausible offers are worth such a trade, something even on the furthest left fringe of the TeaPubliKlan party.

Sure, we'd love to have an epic debate about trading in these tattered nets for a living wage and single payer but c'mon man, that isn't even on the cutting room floor much less approaching the table. There is realistically nothing and we all know it so there is no good reason for any such talk.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. Silly DUers, falling for the bullshit. Tsk, tsk.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1813696

Scootaloo and 174 reccers know more than you and the *trusty representative* from Maryland!

[Skittles]

39. they are the heads-in-the-sand type

[Report1212]

40. Care to explain?

I don't understand this post and don't want to read the huge wall of text.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

43. Just skim it. It'll represent either the best or worst of DU...

depending on your POV.

[Luminous Animal]

44. Just read the OP.

[glinda]

38. These people obviously didn't hear the election vote speaking.

[progressoid]

41. But we keep getting told that there is no evidence that Dems would do such a thing.

[bvar22]

42. BOHICA...(Bend Over Here It Comes Again)

..because we don't have 60 votes or something,

and The President has very little power (except when he does),

and its only been 4 years,

and we HAD to do something

and we had to "save" the children (or some other hostage group),

and we didn't pay attention

and we should have said something sooner,

and the Perfect is the enemy of The Good,

and it was the sensible, pragmatic thing to do in the Real World,

and we don't want to be like George Bush,

and this is a step in the right direction,

and these cuts actually strengthen Social Security

and we can't just RAM our agenda through,

and there is no Magic Wand

and we shouldn't whine for our Pony,

.....

[TheKentuckian]

51. I'm more and more thinking a lot of registered Democrats don't want to pay taxes

or at least a bunch that post on the board.

For them the prime directive, just like Grover and Friends, is to keep those Bush/Obama tax cuts. They just don't make real big money, they just do well.

There is always a hostage and these scammy deals just keep adding hostages to hide behind to protect the prize.

[Enrique]

46. kick

[davekriss]

48. Class Theft, pure and simple (n/t)