Yesterday's Washington Post headline says everything you need to know:
"In debt talks, Obama offers Social Security cuts"
We, as Democrats, must stand firm against any cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits. Period.
So I'm introducing a Senate resolution to tell the President and congressional budget negotiators on both sides of the aisle in unambiguous terms: Cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits should be off the table.
We must unequivocally reject any cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits. Click here to be a citizen co-sponsor of my resolution.
If Democrats can't unite to defend these hugely popular and successful programs -- and unequivocally reject Republican plans to dismantle them -- what do we stand for?
We have to hold the line. We can't keep moving the goalposts.
Cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits is bad policy when so many people are still struggling in this tough economy.
So White House negotiators need to know that they may not get the Democratic votes they need to pass a final budget deal if they slash benefits for Social Security and Medicare. They should not assume Democrats in the House and Senate will just bite the bullet and accept whatever eleventh hour deal they reach with Republicans.
I can only hope that, as one administration official has stated, yesterday's Washington Post story covering the budget negotiations "overshoots the runway" and that the White House isn't seriously considering these cuts.
But until we come together, as Democrats, to declare that cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits should be totally off the table, we must continue to apply pressure upon all those involved in the budget negotiations, including President Obama.
To become a citizen co-sponsor of my resolution today, and unequivocally reject any cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits, click here.
Follow Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenWhitehouse
Working Families Party?
I have read a lot of comments here on this topic and have made a few.
First I muset stipulate that I hate Rep;ub's. (except my best friend) and love Democrats.
HOWEVER, I fear that very many of my Dem friends are living in a make believe non existent ideal world.
My friends, I fervantly wish that you (and I) would read more articles by economists of varous pursuasions and really study FACTS and statistics. I am not holding my breath but I can at least pray. The status quo is not sustainable.on taxes, loopholes or anything else. God bless Obama.
Notwithstanding that my SS pension is a vital part of my current susteance, I do believe that the current formua for computing COLA is illogically slanted toward us beneficiaries. I wish we coud afford this but we cannot. And I uderstand that the financing of SS need reforming but without benefit reduction.
On a related issue: I had cursed the Repub's. for their dogmatic stance against the silighted increase in net "revenue" to the US Treasury. Some people did not understand that, in that context, "revenue" was meant to included TAXES and included terminating some tax "loopholes".
The question is how many more doctors are involved in the same type of criminal behavior.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/07/federal-jury-fi.html
"If Democrats can't unite to defend these hugely popular and successful programs -- and unequivocally reject Republican plans to dismantle them -- what do we stand for?"
Senator, I have been asking myself this question for over two years now. I don't have an answer.
Sitting out the election in 2012 may be my only option. However, if, when I vote for Democrats I get Republican policy..... what good does it do to vote?
BO wants to cut fraud and waste, not benefits. He spoke about this on his town Hall tweet. .
This is an example of what BO wants to get rid of.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/07/federal-jury-fi.html
Rest assured that not investing in the poor and the middle class will have far reaching consequences, because they are the backbone of our consumer population in America. They are spending less and less, and that is what makes the companies reluctant to hire here in America. That brings us in the downward spiral. Average companies give nothing about the debt ceiling. They are only concerned about selling their products.
Senator Whitehouse, I fully agree with you, we have to stand united to safe America from going down. Thanks.
Of course, the payment stayed the same and medicare payments, food, fuel, etc. went up in price....so people getting SS lost real income (buying power).
However, it looks like the politicians are talking about changing the COLA formula to one that gives less money to people on SS than the present day formula.
The poor and elderly have always been with us, but the middle class has now added to those ranks. For the first time since 1940, I missed an election. I could not bellieve in Obama and all the promises he made. People ask me if I would have been better under the Republicans. Well, now we know. It only took us a couple of years to learn. Obama has no guts, he caved into the opposition on the tax using the escuse that the unemployed would not get any more benefits. And he has been caving in since. He ain't a leader, he is a gutless wonder. We ought to go to the streets as other nations are doing to get justice. It is time for us to Trow de Bums out.
i have often admired what you say , and perhaps your place is in the WHITE HOUSE.
People are furious about talks of CUTS to Social Security and only LIFTING the CAP would fix whatever problem there is in the future with it.
As for the BUSH TAX CUTS were passed at a time of SURPLUS
they were RELUCTANTLY passed ONLY for 10 years ............NOW we have DEFICITS and worse DEBT.............so IT IS OBVIOUS they should NOT be extended.
The INTRANSIGANCE of the GOP is a sign of DICTATORIAL intentions
NEXT time they will ask for abolishing the minimum wage as soon as in 2012 they win the SENATE and the White House ...........you will see that i predicted right.
So just know if they appear to be backing off from cutting SS its because the democrats have said that more of them are up for re-election in 2012 and they are fearful if they go along with it, that they will lose.
I look for Obama to include it in on an agreement as they've aleady said that this will just be an agreement for cuts to come next year or after the elections and they will do it on a "separate table" to say it wasn't done to reduce the deficit.
Our politicians, at least most of them do not have the majority of the people's best interest at heart. Their main concern is if they get re-elected and whose going to line their pockets!
I voted for Obama but will not vote for him again. I feel if he can do this to the American people in his first term, what on earth is he going to do if he gets re-elected?