A 'grand bargain' that would cut Social Security and Medicare would be a 'grand betrayal'

[Omaha Steve]

http://aft.org/newspubs/news/2013/102513retirees.cfm

October 25, 2013

Now that there is an agreement between the U.S. House and Senate to fund the government and to raise the debt ceiling, seniors are continuing to pressure lawmakers to ensure there are no cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

There is concern that a “grand bargain” between President Obama and Republicans would include benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The cuts could come from switching to a “chained CPI” (short for Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) that would result in lower Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustments. Another bad idea is means-testing Medicare by increasing premiums not only for seniors with higher incomes but for many in the middle class. Retirees say that any “grand bargain” that would cut Social Security and Medicare would be a “grand betrayal.”

“There is real danger ahead of a ‘grand bargain’ that would cut seniors’ Social Security and Medicare benefits, giving us more reason to be anxious,” says Edward Coyle, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, an organization that has partnered with the AFT. “The alliance’s members are watching closely and remaining hopeful that Washington finds a way to do the right thing. That certainly doesn’t mean wrongly trying to solve the country’s budget problems on the backs of our seniors.”

In early October, dozens of members of Congress in the Congressional Progressive Caucus joined with retiree activists from the ARA, Social Security Works and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare at the Capitol to oppose benefit cuts like chained CPI and show their support for expanding Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

FULL story at link.

[n2doc]

1. It would, but the repubs are too chicken

The only way they see this happen is if they can somehow make Obama and the Dems take ownership of it, by providing most of the votes. Then the repubs can run against that 'social security destroying Socialist Obama"

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Agreed, and that won't happen

Obama lost control of Congressional Democrats as of the Syria vote, they won't back him on cat food programs either anymore, particularly when Sanders, Warren, and others will call out that bullshit.

[rtracey]

3. these programs

These programs are not going to be cut, and here's why.... its not political. Meaning..... ALL Seniors, Repub and Dem tend to somewhat rely on Medicare and Social Security, even the rich. By cutting these benefits, it would be political suicide to any party that tries it.

[BlueJazz]

4. So first the politicians "borrow" Social Security funds and then they want to cut the payouts.

Is that how it works ?

[tecelote]

9. They're good at it...

They pass a law that forces the Post Office to cover future pensions then say that the Post Office is broke because it is operating at a loss.

[on point]

5. The compromise is that instead of restoring wealth tax to 70%, we are ok w 60%

[AnotherMcIntosh]

6. Remember what Rahm said with respect to liberals: “Where are they going to go?”.

[Doctor_J]

7. but he's a good man who is playing chess at such a high level and peons

like us just can't understand that politics is the art of the possible and we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good and we don't have 82 democratic senators and even if we did some of them are blue dogs and Lieberman.

[Enthusiast]

8. Kicked and recommended.

More kicks!