Is the payroll tax cut now a permanent thing in essence?

[Snake Alchemist]

This is the lifeblood of social security and we are reducing its flow when it is needed most. I can't see any administration of any political stripe wanting to raise it back up now.

[Enrique]

1. it needs to be an issue in the 2016 Democratic primary

I will be looking for a candidate who is committed to Social Security. A candidate who finds Alan Simpson abhorrent for example.

[hughee99]

9. A tax cut repukes don't like? A Democratic Administration pushing for weaking SS funding ?

I have a feeling it's going to be an issue long before 2016.

[librechik]

2. we need to address it when it expires this year--

If unemployment statistics continue to improve, there will be no reason to keep it except to weaken SS.

[Snake Alchemist]

3. I just doubt that anyone will have the stomach to bring it back up. nt

[librechik]

4. me too, they don't realize how hard it was to adjust SS for the baby boomers bak in 87

now they want to cut it just as we hit retirement? wtf

[Snake Alchemist]

5. Exactly. You nailed it. nt

[subterranean]

6. Whoever lets it expire will be accused of a massive tax hike on the middle class.

Which is pretty much how Obama characterized Republican opposition to the extension this time around.

[Snake Alchemist]

7. Exactly. It's another nail in the coffin for social security.

The argument has already been lost.

[Yo_Mama]

8. I think it may be - so we need to start figuring an alternate dedicated tax

Because we have to pay for SS or it won't be there. This is an insidious way to undercut the Social Security program unless another dedicated tax is set up.

Mind you, this is occurring at a time when CBO is predicting that the DI trust fund is due to run out in 2016, which under current law would force a cut in benefits. We aren't talking about something that's due to hit decades down the line - we are talking about something that impacts this decade.

I don't think we should sleepwalk into this and this is an issue the average voter should try hard to keep on the political radar.

The MWP tax credit provided more of a rebate to lower-income workers and cost less (because it paid nothing to really high-income workers). That was a democratic way to stimulate the economy. This rebate is not.

[Snake Alchemist]

10. that sounds even less likely. NT