Official: Obama's budget proposes cuts to Social Security in attempt to compromise with GOP

[KoKo]

Source: AP/Yahoo


Official: Obama's budget proposes cuts to Social Security in attempt to compromise with GOP
Associated PressBy Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press | Associated Press – 17 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's proposed budget will call for reductions in the growth of Social Security and other benefit programs by including a proposal to lower cost-of-living adjustments to government social safety net spending, a senior administration official says.

The reductions in growth of benefit programs, which would affect veterans, the poor and the older Americans, is sure to anger many Democrats. Labor groups and liberals have long been critical of Obama's offer to Boehner for including such a plan.

The proposal attempts to strike a compromise with congressional Republicans on the Fiscal 2014 budget by combining the president's demand for higher taxes with GOP insistence on reductions in entitlement programs.

The official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity to describe a budget that has yet to be released, said Obama would reduce the federal government deficit by $1.8 trillion over 10 years.

A key feature of the plan Obama is proposing for the federal budget year beginning Oct. 1 is a revised inflation adjustment called "chained CPI." This new formula would effectively curb annual annual increases in a broad swath of government programs, but would have its biggest impact on Social Security.
111403974.html

Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/official-obama-proposes-cuts-social-111403974.html

[Scuba]

1. Why would President Obama compromise with terrorists?

[kurtzapril4]

5. It's not a compromise.

It's what he's wanted all along.

[liberal N proud]

8. How is it what he wanted all along?

[Kelvin Mace]

26. He's been making noises about it ever since the Cat Food Commission recomended it

Many of us here predicted it.

[rosesaylavee]

2. Maybe...

When I read this somewhere other than Yahoo or AP and the spokesperson has been identified, then I will get upset. But "The official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity" doesn't inspire fear in me yet. It may be they are floating this to see the reaction. If so, let's let them know that this is not a good idea.

[Lifelong Protester]

4. I think you will see it on the front page of the NYTimes

still could be a trial balloon, but the Times is reporting this story too.

[KoKo]

6. ***Preserve SS & Medicare & No Chained CPI!-- Two Actions You Can Take!***

Go here and check out Senator Sherrod Brown's Petition or Call the White House (phone number is in the first Action at the link).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022614332

[malthaussen]

7. I tend to agree

Official, schmicial. I don't trust anonymous sources. It's not like the Press and administration have not been dancing this dance forever. As far as I'm concerned, it is only "official" when the proposal is on the table for all to see. The rest is just panic-mongering.

Not that I disbelieve the implications of the story. The administration may well intend to offer such a deal. But I shall reserve judgement until there is an accountable report.

-- Mal

[Auntie Bush]

17. But you can complain to officials in the meantime to let them know how we feel.

If we take ths lying down...they will want even more.

By the way...what are the ReThugs giving in return?

[malthaussen]

18. As to the first, complain away

By all means inform the responsible office of your opposition.

As to the second, I doubt the Republicans are "giving" anything. They never have in the past.

-- Mal

[HiPointDem]

9. CNN: Obama to propose changes to Medicare and Social Security in new budget

For Social Security, Obama plans to propose a switch to a key Republican request called "chained CPI," which is an inflation formula.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/politics/obama-budget/index.html

[liberal N proud]

12. New York Times has the story too

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/social-programs-face-cutback-in-obama-budget.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130405&_r=0

[NewJeffCT]

3. Why is Obama pre-compromising again?

does he really want to lose the Senate next year?

[HiPointDem]

11. and the presidency in 2016. combined with the takeover of the fundies at the state level,

we are in for a hell of a good time.

a democrat cut social security, that should pretty much kill the democratic base.

[michigandem58]

13. Because those who care most about SS will now vote Repugnant

or hide in a cave.

[HiPointDem]

16. because the democratic party is offering next to nothing to the majority of voters.

[Autumn]

19. Because those who care most about SS vote for Democrats, and if a

Democrat is going to cut it, there's not much of a reason to vote.

[michigandem58]

27. Pretty obtuse reasoning

Democrats provide a counterweight to GOP desires to cut SS. The more elective offices they hold, the more Democrats can do to preserve it and the less compromising they'll have to do.

[Autumn]

28. Sure, right. I'm not seeing the fucking pukes propose cuts to SS

But if you think that works, keep doing it. A blue dog is not a Democrat

[michigandem58]

29. "I'm not seeing the fucking pukes propose cuts to SS."

You cannot be serious.

[Autumn]

30. Yes I am serious. Obama proposed them Boner rejected them.

You might not have noticed that, but some people are kind of pissed about it.

[newfie11]

15. True

When both partys want the same thing what good is it to vote.

All the folks that stood in line for 9-14 hours won't do it again.

[zipplewrath]

21. The usual guess

Usually, the deduction is that he WANTS to do this, but has been looking to "get" something for doing it. The assertion is that he wants to restructure the entitlement programs as a big part of his legacy. He sees it as "saving "them in some sense.

[sendero]

10. More of that n-dimensional..

... chess. Yeah right.

[newfie11]

14. Thanks Obama

I voted for you twice and never in my wildest dream did I think you would do this.

Thanks loads! You are a big disappointment and I guess all politicians are the same!

God help this country!!!!!!

[steve2470]

20. Time to contact the White House

Web response form: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

Snail mail: The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500 (more info here )

Phone calls:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

[Babel_17]

32. Great idea. thank you!

Done!

Here's what I wrote.

The proposed Chained CPI is a travesty and a betrayal to those who believed the promises made by President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Allow me to quote VP Biden. “Number one, I guarantee you, flat guarantee you, there will be no changes in Social Security,” Biden said, per a pool report. “I flat guarantee you.”

If the administration persists in this betrayal it will not be forgotten or forgiven. History is watching.

If I might suggest, the quote by Biden, which another DU member pointed me towards, should be brought up a lot.

[dipsydoodle]

22. Obama 'offering to cut US pensions' for deficit deal

US President Barack Obama is prepared to offer cuts to Americans' pensions to strike a deficit deal with Republicans, a White House official says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22042555

Apologies for the dupe LBN.

[papa3times]

23. It makes no difference,

if Obama is supporting it they will dismiss it out of hand. Obama is laying another trap for the republicans to walk into. He knows they will not go along with anything he proposes even if it's something they supported just last week!

[markpkessinger]

35. Even IF you are right about that, this is a very dangerous game he is playing . . .

. . . and in the longer term, the more air and sunshine he gives to ANY proposal (how ever c"hess-like" his intent might be), the more he lends legitimacy to the very idea in the public discourse.

[sakabatou]

39. True. If only we could have a real progressive president

[caseymoz]

24. I paid this guy out of my disability, twice.

That's like hiring somebody to mug you.

[forestpath]

25. What's he going to "compromise" on in the next budget? He's already thrown old people

under the bus.

Who's next in the appeasement sweepstakes?

[grahamhgreen]

31. A pariah.

[sakabatou]

33. Obama's playing chess again. You can calm down now

He's just showing that Republicans will vote no for anything Obama proposes.

[markpkessinger]

36. See #35 below n/t

[Babel_17]

40. But when in the future another President

puts Social Security on the chopping block, how outrageous will it look?

It certainly won't be unprecedented. That President can note that President Obama saw the need for shared sacrifice, compromise, what have you.

And surely the MSM will duly nod their heads and confirm that.

[santamargarita]

34. Who won the Fucking election?

[aandegoons]

38. In other news.

Gazelle cuts off leg in order to negotiate with pack of lions.

[zebrastripe]

41. A Ploy? A Bluff

As the President is also proposing many items the republicans will not vote for, is it possible he is just proposing this, knowing it will not pass, just to demonstrate to the public that he is willing to take from the poor, while the repubs are not will to have the wealthy pay their fair share. His action is upsetting people to the point that they are contacting their representatives, etc. He is getting people to act for what they want.

[cbrer]

42. Democrats = slightly slower slide to hell than Republicans

Where is the voice for the constituencies, if nothing else?

Oh, never mind. The true constituencies are too big to fail.

[City Lights]

43. I just heard him say that he's met them "more than halfway" with his budget.

Why would someone BEGIN negotiations by meeting their insane opponent MORE THAN HALFWAY?