TPM: Could The GOP Turn Social Security Into A Perennial 'Crisis' Like The Debt Limit?

[antigop]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-congress-social-security-cliff-debt-ceiling

With a fight over Social Security brewing in the new Republican Congress, advocates are worried that a possible GOP angle is to turn Social Security into a perennial crisis in much the same way raising the debt limit has become. By setting up a series of forcing events, the argument goes, Republicans would be able to create an ongoing crisis atmosphere around Social Security that would create a pretext for dramatic changes to the 80-year-old program.

As TPM has documented, the House passed a rule on the first day of the new Congress that prohibited the routine transfer of tax revenue between Social Security's retirement and disability funds, the latter of which will stop being able to make full benefit payments starting in late 2016. The transfer, known as reallocation, has been done under Democratic and Republican administrations multiple times in the past, most recently in 1994, but the new House rule forbids it unless it is accompanied by measures that improve the overall solvency of Social Security.

House Republicans have been transparent about their intentions of using the new rule to force a debate on changes to the program, while advocates and Democrats warned that the rule could lead to benefit cuts. But there is another possibility: Republicans could pass a short-term reallocation that would set up another shortfall a few years down the road -- and one that could arrive under a new Republican president.

It would in theory turn Social Security reallocation into something akin to the debt ceiling of the last few years: A formerly routine accounting move that the GOP is now trying to use as a leverage point to advance conservative proposals. Advocates told TPM that it was a scenario they were taking seriously.

[PoliticAverse]

1. They now have a 'hostage' for negotiations. n/t

[drm604]

2. I wouldn't put it past them.

On the surface it seems like messing with Social Security would be political suicide on their part, but they could try to spin it by claiming that SS is in trouble and that the Democrats won't compromise in order to save it, and they may get people to believe what they're saying.

Damn these amoral assholes.

[antigop]

4. that's similar to what they did with multiemployer pensions.

They said that the pensions needed to be cut in order to save them.

And they got some of the Dems to go along.

[vi5]

3. Only if Democrats let them.

If Democrats get out there and talk honestly, and tell the truth and are competent in their efforts to do so, then there should be no issue.

So to answer the original question: Yes. Yes, the Republicans will do that.

[Thinkingabout]

5. This is going to be a big problem, for the truly disabled my heart goes out to them.

This is another election consequence which we must live with for two years. The non voters needs to know even if every issue they prefer is not one of those on the ballot we should still vote. A Democrat elected is going to be better for our issues than a Republican. A non vote is one for Republicans.

[drm604]

8. What you say about the non-voters is very true.

It angers me when I see people on DU elsewhere talking about withholding their vote or voting for a third party that doesn't stand a chance. If you insist on all or nothing, you'll usually get nothing.

[Half-Century Man]

6. In a heartbeat.

I meant in the time it takes for a human heart to beat.

I am, in no way, implying that the representatives of the money elected through deception (99% of republicans, 30-40% of the Democrats) have any feelings whatsoever to the millions of people relying on our 80 year old program to protect the older and infirmed.

[upaloopa]

7. Why don't we think long term like that.

When they hold the reins they make plans to screw us down the road. When we hold the reigns we try to "work" with repukes! Then we don't vote and they take more ground from us.
We need some Dems with the desire to fuck over the right wing.