Obama May Do Social Security Reform During Lame Duck Session, Senate Democrats Worry
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Source: Sam Stein, Huffington Post
WASHINGTON -- Concern is mounting among some Senate Democrats that President Barack Obama will make a deal with Senate Republicans during the lame-duck session that would result in changes to the benefit structure of Social Security.
One of the most progressive voices in the caucus, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), said he was heartened to hear Obama tell the AARP last week that he'd be open to raising the cap on income that's taxed for purposes of paying into the Social Security trust fund. Sanders also applauded the president for taking off of the table any reform language that resulted in the "slashing" of benefits (several Social Security advocates, disagreeing with Sanders, said they were worried such language was counterproductive, as it opens the door for cuts that could be deemed minor).
But the Vermont Independent worried that all of this could be posturing for the lame-duck session immediately after the election, when lawmakers are expected to rush to find another "grand bargain" on tax and entitlement reform to stave off the so-called fiscal cliff.
"That's exactly what's going to happen," Sanders said of Social Security being on the proverbial table, "Unless someone of us stops it -- and a number of us are working very hard on this -- that's exactly what will happen. Everything being equal, unless we stop it, what will happen is there will be a quote-unquote grand bargain after the election in which the White House, some Democrats will sit down with Republicans, they will move to a chained CPI."
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/obama-and-social-security_n_1910498.html
Given President Obama's willingness to bend over backwards to meet some Republican demands at the expense of his own supporters, this article certainly troubles me, given that Bernie Sanders, whom I greatly respect, is troubled by the potential outcome.
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cyclezealot
(4,802 posts)from Back peddling.. Should Obama sell us out, it is time for the likes of Bernie Sanders , Sherrod Brown , Barbara Boxer to do a real filibuster.
rachel1
(538 posts)Response to cyclezealot (Reply #1)
Post removed
CrispyQ
(36,544 posts)I'm voting for Obama in November mostly because I want to send a message to the tea baggers that hate & bigotry are not acceptable in a civilized society. If R/R wins, the baggers will feel their hate has been validated.
We are looking at austerity no matter who wins. It will definitely be worse under repubs, but we're not getting any New Deal. Not even close.
coldbeer
(306 posts)No way! This is life. Let us get one.
elleng
(131,236 posts)Response to coldbeer (Reply #50)
Post removed
alp227
(32,067 posts)Ask Sandra Fluke about that.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)I support this place because I thought it was supposed to be attack free during elections.
alp227
(32,067 posts)who signed letter against cutting SS http://www.democraticunderground.com/101761023
So DO expect a filibuster.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)WHY IN THE FUCK would he even THINK about doing this?????????????
It will COST HIM VOTES, and not just a few votes either.
Rmoney/Ryan are ON THE RUN, away from their own positions on SS and Medicare.
Biden PROMISED several weeks ago, that SS and Medicare were SAFE under their Administration. 
NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO!!
A thousand times NO!!
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)..EVER under an Obama administration. Was he LYING?
Sorry but this is just plain fucked up.
Shit like this (and the drone strikes in Pakistan on
first responders to the first drone's casualties ) is
going to drive millions of voters to INDEPENDENT
candidates, and might even cost Obama the
election.
Calling David Axelrod !!!!
Why the fuck can't this shit wait until after the election
at least.???????????????
Loudestlib
(980 posts)I've not seen any conformation of this anywhere. Maybe Sam feels the race is safe enough to us this to drive clicks?
The Magistrate
(95,258 posts)MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)The Magistrate
(95,258 posts)Perhaps a change of routine, of scenery?
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)
nolabear
(42,001 posts)C'mon, defend your OP. People around here like to pile on but if you actually talk you'll get respect. Well, generally.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)for seniors -- and disaster for the families of the helpless elderly with diseases like severe dementia and Alzheimers. It would take many middle aged people out of the workplace because they would have to stay home to take care of their aged parents.
This would be an utter disaster for the country causing misery you cannot imagine.
It would also affect some people who have to have hip surgery and need a fairly long convalescence and others with chronic diseases.
That would pretty much devastate the older generation.
Poorly educated American seniors, and especially older white women with low incomes have already LOST in terms of life expectancy in recent years.
"The steepest declines were for white women without a high school diploma, who lost five years of life between 1990 and 2008, said S. Jay Olshansky, a public health professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the lead investigator on the study, published last month in Health Affairs. By 2008, life expectancy for black women without a high school diploma had surpassed that of white women of the same education level, the study found."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/us/life-expectancy-for-less-educated-whites-in-us-is-shrinking.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www
Based on my experience with my peers and family, I believe that decline is due to the fact that Social Security increases have not kept up with the increases in costs of food, medication, fuel, electricity, water and all the other necessities that people who are poor and elderly pay for.
To cut the COLAs further will further decrease the life expectancy of seniors in America.
Why white female seniors? Just a theory, but it may be because fewer of them live with their extended family than do other seniors.
dflprincess
(28,086 posts)not the one that takes office in late January 2013.
The Repbublicans will still control the House during that session and that will be who Obama would make the deal with.
The Magistrate
(95,258 posts)If a Democratic House were in train for the following year.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)that after he wins the second term with a clear, filibuster proof legislature, he will finally realize he does not have to bend to the repug thugs will.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)
DURHAM D
(32,616 posts)WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)adigal
(7,581 posts)Most populists are killed or have their reputations destroyed - look at Kennedy and Edwards. How many men DC have lovers or even gay lovers? And how many are exposed? I ask myself why John Edwards was exposed? He was always pushing for the little guy.
Iris
(15,673 posts)
Cha
(297,832 posts)Sam Stein with a grain of salt to whip up Worry.
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)fun n serious
(4,451 posts)I hope he has learned his lesson.
Cha
(297,832 posts)way of getting things done.. He knows damn well they don't want anything to do with him except to keep him a one term president. PBO made a fine show of reaching out and I'm sure he knew they'd bite his hand.
thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)If anything, President Obama destroyed the conservative wave of "cut social security" with his panel that he KNEW would never come up with a solution.........
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)
whathehell
(29,100 posts)alp227
(32,067 posts)Both for his weekly call in hour on Friday AND an interview about SS on THURSDAY??
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101761023
pasto76
(1,589 posts)unsubstantiated claims
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)I will reserve getting excited until it actually comes to pass.
That said, it would not surprise me if he did cut a deal to gut SS and Medicare in the name of "bipartisan reform".
It does amuse me that I am getting my balls busted over in a GD thread for DARING to state that re-electing Obama may still result in continued movement to the right,and the continued destruction of the Republic.
Faygo Kid
(21,478 posts)Social Security doesn't contribute a dime to the deficit. It shouldn't be touched in the context of a fiscal debate with the pressures of a deadline, but addressed on its own without a gun to its head.
Just hope Romney doesn't get in. He'll end it.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), said he was heartened to hear Obama tell the AARP last week that he'd be open to raising the cap on income that's taxed for purposes of paying into the Social Security trust fund. Sanders also applauded the president for taking off of the table any reform language that resulted in the "slashing" of benefits..."
Cha
(297,832 posts)a fine job.
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)jtuck004
(15,882 posts)blind, disabled, and those in poverty, to an administration who is now purchasing $40 Billion a month in mortgage-backed securities and giving the banks that flattened the American economy and hurt so many people 0% loans, all so wealthy people like Mi$$ Rmoney won't lose money on their investments, (in the hopes that their benefits will trickle down on us?), maybe you think the 47% really aren't the biggest concern, despite all the rhetoric.
Maybe they could go to an emergency room to warm up?
Scuba
(53,475 posts)"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), said he was heartened to hear Obama tell the AARP last week that he'd be open to raising the cap on income that's taxed for purposes of paying into the Social Security trust fund. Sanders also applauded the president for taking off of the table any reform language that resulted in the "slashing" of benefits..."
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)Bernie Sanders is a strong advocate for the average folk in America, and has proven himself in this area over and over again. The correct answer to your question is "He Wouldn't" (but I suspect you already know that). I suggest your question would be more appropriate if rephrased as "Why would (insert name of entity denouncing Sanders) do that"?
elbloggoZY27
(283 posts)There can be no compromise with the Party that wants to destroy Social Security and Medicare.
Sounds like what the Indians received from the United States in the 19th Century. They had their land stolen from them.
I say NO DEAL.
cstanleytech
(26,337 posts)you appear to be saying but.....ummm, isnt that also one of the reasons most of us dislike the GOP?
MrSlayer
(22,143 posts)Any compromise with them moves the center further to the right. But to not deal with them leaves us with a stalemate. So we're fucked no matter what.
We should have just run the GOP over when we had the majorities to do so and set the pendulum back in its proper place. But they went all scared and spineless when faced with the option to actually work for the people and not the overlords.
When you move rightward no matter which party is in control you have people talking about there not being much difference between the parties. And they're not entirely wrong.
beachgirl2365
(111 posts)Huffington Post = Talk about desperation for a conversation about something, anything, just to give pretense that they are the blog that is in the know...... speculation and rumor now constitute headlines at Huffington Post,,,,,,, please folks I thought you were better than that,. and now DU has a link to it,...... must be a slow news day,............fire their editor!!!...pretty pathetic people
tokenlib
(4,186 posts)AND, if the President would simply say "NO CUTS" to Social Security instead of this "balanced" approach centrist crap on Social Security--we would not be having this discussion.
Get control of Congress..raise the CAP with no donut hole to $250,000..knock Social Security OFF the table and then we can move along..nothing to see then.
OTHERWISE, be prepared to see a "balanced" bargain drawing on Simpson-Bowles (that has been name dropped too frequently for comfort) with a higher retirement age and "chained CPI" offered on the sacrificial altar in the hopes of some revenue crumbs allowed by the GOP on the cap...
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)Fact: He put Social Security on the bargaining table during budget negotiations back in 2011 following a closed door meeting with Boehner. ( http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/07/obama_puts_social_security_and.html )
As such it is logical to construe that Social Security is certainly not sacrosanct for Obama. My prediction, you will not hear Obama say "No Cuts" to ease your mind, as the plans for cuts, in some manner, have undoubtedly already been laid out.
This is not to say that I will not vote for Obama as what alternative do I, or any of us really, have? As long as we are only allowed to vote for 100% Wall Street certified candidates, we will have no say in what transpires at the top. Best advice, prepare yourself to cuts to public programs regardless of who is elected. The only option you have with your vote is to choose how fast you want these changes to take place.
Kteachums
(331 posts)I am in my last year of teaching before retirement and the only reason I can even think about retirement is because I can also, draw early SS. Do not tell me they will take it away. I won't be able to make ends meet if this happens. I am a single mother who just went through cancer treatment. I am struggling to get this year in (tired). Don't tell me they will up the SS age or cut it. I cannot survive. I thought we didn't have to worry about this with Obama?
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)the last two years of his term. Seniors cannot survive on less Social Security or Medicare than we now have.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)nolabear
(42,001 posts)I don't think Obama is just champing at the bit to cut SS benefits as soon as he isn't risking anything. But it IS a great panic button pusher. I'd advocate for sitting back and watching, seeing what happens. Once the election is over either the GOP will be out of the power position or they'll continue to block everything except what makes Obama look bad. I'm not sure the Democratic Party is willing to just lie there and let that happen by cutting SS.
bluemarkers
(536 posts)While I do believe Obama may have compromised too much, I don't feel he had many options either. The past 2 years were stagnant as to getting any work done in Congress, so my guess is that he is playing word games. (or at least I hope so)
Funny how this article pops up, right as polls are showing Obama is gaining ground with seniors!
There is so much acrimony between the three parties right now, if the Dems unite, we will be able to get work done.
otherone
(973 posts)
bhikkhu
(10,725 posts)That's Stein putting words into Sanders' mouth showing Sanders supposedly putting words in Obama's mouth.
How many times do we have to have this trotted out, with no substantiation ever?
Samantha
(9,314 posts)right after the Bowles-Simpson recommendations. Here is a link (it is in the older DU Journals):
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Samantha/57
here are some pertinent paragraphs:
"Switching to the chained CPI would reduce Social Security COLAs by about 0.3 of a percentage point each year, the Congressional Budget Office estimates, saving the federal government more than $200 billion over the next 10 years. Most of the savings would come from lower Social Security benefits and lower retirement benefits for federal employees, whose increases also are tied to the CPI.
The Senior Citizens League calculates that such a change would reduce Social Security benefits by an estimated 7 percent over a 25-year retirement. For a senior who retires in 2011 and receives the average Social Security benefit -- about $1,100 per month -- this would reduce benefits over 25 years by $18,634. The cuts would be very small in the beginning but escalate as recipients age." (emphasis added)(see http://www.tscl.org/action/emergencycola.a... .)
Additionally, the Senior Citizens League issued a emergency petition, the first three bullet points of which are:
"• The Social Security COLA should not be calculated from the consumer price index (CPI), since the CPI is based on the purchases of young urban workers and does not reflect the actual expenses of senior citizens.
• Even when CPI-based inflation is very low, the expenses that form the backbone of senior citizens’ budgets – medical insurance, prescription drugs, fuel – continue to rise alarmingly.
• The federal government itself recognizes the inequity of a CPI-based COLA by calculating a senior-specific CPI formula, which it never uses, that shows our cost of living rises faster than that of most young people."
***
Two days after Senator Sanders' office received the information, he stepped out and made a public issue of this. He has not let up. The chained COLA is not a good thing. Over a period of time, it very adversely impacts seniors' benefits.
Sam
cstanleytech
(26,337 posts)whistler162
(11,155 posts)uncreative speculation only for creative speculation.
Darchan
(12 posts)Where is AARP on this? They need to deliver something.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)that requires all woman to have a rose tattoo on their butt!
krawhitham
(4,650 posts)Peregrine Took
(7,417 posts)We know that in Illinois.
I will vote for him but I have no illusions about his political past, present or future.
He is a middle of the road moderate all the way.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)In fact, this is when we need it the most. If we US citizens have no collective imperative to fund for our futures without greedy private interests, then we are dead as a nation.
jonesgirl
(157 posts)
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Honestly, I've lost count.
Obama must be making gains with Seniors in the polls.
Darchan
(12 posts)This is big cause of concern. If Sanders is concerned, I'm concerned. I'm afraid there will be a backroom deal post-election if Obama wins. Not happy about this.
Peregrine Took
(7,417 posts)I don't trust him and never have but I will still vote for him come hell or high water.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)This is big cause of concern!!11!!
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)this is series
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)there's no reason why BHO should be hiding what he will or won't agree to on this, anymore than there is for Mr. "just trust me!" Romney hiding the things he specifically intends to do or would "compromise" on.
the bots usually tend to exaggerate with alarming words like "destroy", when most are complaining about things far short of that, like what has Bernie concerned.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)This is the kind of game Obama has been playing all along .. he campaigns to his base .. liberal/progressive dems, then turns around and makes deals with big banks, big oil, and now he's going to shake hands with repugs by compromising on Social Security. He really isn't our man is he? I am sick of the Bill Clintons and Barrack Obamas and the Rahm Emanuels. Fuck em.
Politicub
(12,165 posts)President Obama has said he wants to raise the earnings cap. I agree with him.
The headline is nothing but link bait. And it looks like it's working.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)They do this all the time. Attention-grabbing headline. Mundane article (usually written by somebody else).
ElboRuum
(4,717 posts)...I don't typically consider HuffPo worth much these days.
TeacherB87
(249 posts)I doubt he will feel much pressure to bow to any of their demands. In fact, if that is the result of the election, I wouldn't doubt the rethugs reconsider their stalwart position. And if the American people choose another republican congress, then they deserve whatever shitty compromise results from it. I'm sorry, Obama is not a king, and the Democratic Party does not control all levers of government. If you want a better result, get people to vote for one. Otherwise stop complaining about the lemonade Obama is forced to make with the lemons we give him.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)
awake
(3,226 posts)This is a big distraction planted to get people thinking that Obama can not be trusted, we have one thing to do right now that is REELECT OBAMA!!!!! I smell a rat or maybe just the press wanting to tighten up the race, Do Not fall for the trap of fighting with ourselves.
Walk away
(9,494 posts)long time reader short time writer
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)
Rhiannon12866
(206,332 posts)Please consider reposting in Politics 2012 or GD. Thanks!
