Pelosi: My Deficit Committee Members Will Oppose All Entitlement Benefit Cuts

[one_voice]

The debt limit fight is over, but the fight over entitlement programs will continue for months. In the weeks ahead, the leaders of both parties in both the House and Senate will name three members each to a new committee tasked with reducing the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion.

The ultimate makeup of that committee is key. It will determine whether this Congress will pass further fiscal legislation, and, thus, what the major themes of the 2012 election will be.

At a pre-recess press conference Tuesday afternoon, TPM asked House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) whether the people she appoints to the committee will make the same stand she made during the debt limit fight -- that entitlement benefits -- as opposed to provider payments, waste and other Medicare spending -- should be off limits.

In short, yes.

"That is a priority for us," Pelosi said. "But let me say it is more than a priority - it is a value... it's an ethic for the American people. It is one that all of the members of our caucus share. So that I know that whoever's at that table will be someone who will fight to protect those benefits."

*snip*

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/pelosi-my-deficit-committee-members-will-oppose-all-entitlement-benefit-cuts.php

[Big Blue Marble]

1. That could be good news.

Of course, the Republicans will select 6 members who want no cuts to the pentagon.

What happens then?

[Bozita]

2. Yes, ... a Dem in leadership with balls!

Thank you, Nancy.

[LaydeeBug]

8. but since she is in the minority....

It is good to see some spine though.

[thereismore]

3. The VP should have been the 7th member. nt

[jtown1123]

4. Let's hope this happens...It's the Senators I worry about (Warner, Conrad, etc.)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Then, why the hell did you vote for the sell-out bill, Nancy?

Oh, right. "The Devil made me do it" defense.

[dana_b]

9. exactly - I don't believe

her. If the President asks her to, she would do it.

[vi5]

6. And Reid will appoint Warner, Nelson, etc.

Does Obama get any picks like he did for the catfood commission? Because then that bodes even less well for us, because he'll pick more anti social security zealots and maybe even some Republicans, just so he can seem bipartisan and get his unrequited loves in the Republican party to give him a wink of their eye.

[gratuitous]

7. Right up until the deadlock and the cuts are triggered automatically

This Super Congress Committee is such a bad idea, it's difficult to know where to start on it. But if the committee deadlocks and can't come to a decision, across-the-board cuts are triggered automatically. The Republican House just adjourned for August leaving the Federal Aviation Administration unfunded. Except for air traffic controllers and some inspectors who are working for free (and hoping they get paid somewhere down the line), everything else the FAA is stopped. Airport construction, collection of fees to fund the agency, all the rest of it, just stopped. It will be colossally expensive, and some of the damage done may very well be permanent. And the Republicans did this to stick a thumb in the eye of union workers that Delta Airlines was trying to screw over. They are clearly unconcerned about any backlash, should it ever come.

If the Republicans will go to the mat for that, what are they going to do when it comes time to forge an agreement for the undisputed good of the country? If you think they'll suddenly find a heart for good governance, you'd be better off hoping the Grinch's heart will grow three sizes in one day. The Republicans as currently constituted would welcome across-the-board spending cuts, consequences be damned. They'll figure out a way to rig things so that their wealthy benefactors aren't inconvenienced (and even if they are, they're in a far better position for a little inconvenience than those of us scraping by month to month), with Fox News leading the cheers for more sacrifice by everyone except the fatcats in the plush seats who can't be bothered to help pull the wagon.

I'm glad Rep. Pelosi said this, but I don't think it means a damned thing.