AARP poll: Seniors loathe chained CPI proposal

[ProSense]

AARP poll: Seniors loathe chained CPI proposal

by Joan McCarter

The AARP has completed a new poll stating the really obvious: seniors, all seniors regardless of party, really hate the idea of a chained CPI.

The AARP reveals that 70 percent of voters age 50-plus oppose the use of the chained CPI to cut benefits, and two-thirds of them—including 60 percent of Republicans—say they would be “considerably less likely” to support a congressional candidate if he or she backed a new way of calculating consumer prices. And 84 percent of voters over 50 say Social Security has no place in budget-deficit discussions, since it is self-financed. <...>

“The chained CPI reduction snowballs over time and would increase taxes for most taxpayers — at the same time that it cuts benefits for children, veterans, widows, retirees, and people with disabilities,” said AARP executive vice president Nancy LeaMond in a statement. “As this survey shows, older Americans oppose the chained CPI and they’ve historically made their opinions known to their elected officials.” (emphasis added)

You can expect seniors to continue to make their opinions know to their elected officials, now that the chained CPI is officially ensconced in the president's budget. More than 100 House Democrats have told the president that they are opposed to the proposal, which makes sense since they are the ones getting most of those calls.

So far, a handful of senators have expressed their opposition. Sen. Bernie Sander says he will do "everything in my power" to block the proposal. Sens. Tom Harkin and Jeff Merkley have also publicly stated their opposition. That's following the voice vote on the Senate budget rejecting the proposal.

So, the Republican House budget doesn't contain the chained CPI. The Senate rejected it. The most vocal elected Democrats are opposed to it, perhaps with the exception of Nancy Pelosi. Right now, the President is pretty much on his own with this proposal, without a constituency. Speaker Boehner has already rejected it and the people who will be hurt by it hate it. So why is it going to be in his budget, again?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/05/1199489/-AARP-poll-Seniors-loathe-chained-CPI-nbsp-proposal

Sen. Bernie Sanders ‘Deeply Disappointed’ With Obama’s Social Security Cuts, Vows To Block Them
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022620870

[NCTraveler]

1. I never would have guessed. nt.

[MineralMan]

2. Of course we do. That's why we're telling our representatives

what we think. Of course we hate chained CPI. But seniors are not the ones who will vote on this. So we're talking to those people.

The President doesn't have a "budget." He has a "budget proposal." Presidents' "budget proposals" always get changed. Influence that change, and you'll be doing something. Calling President Obama names does not change what gets passed in the House. Contact your congressional representative now!

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Certainly take action, but refraining from mockery of politicians does not change what gets passed

any more than the mockery does, and it is fully possible to lampoon mediocre and self interested politicians as part of an over all plan of action.
Peter DeFazio and Jeff Merkley don't need to be pestered to be principled. My Congressional delegation is not the problem. The problem lies with the President and with Republicans.

[MineralMan]

5. As you doubtlessly know,

I post on DU as it suits me. I will continue to do so, despite your telling me how to post. As you have reminded me many times, it is not you who may dictate to me. I will appreciate it if you do not do that.

[treestar]

4. Then they should quit voting Republican nt