Email from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on "A deal to slash Social Security"....

[ancianita]

16. Here's what I've learned that the committee is grappling with.

"The conference committee was assigned to try to reconcile differences between separate budgets passed earlier this year by the Senate and the House...

...The Senate budget protects Medicare while the House version would end Medicare as we know it by providing coupons for private health insurance. Unlike the House budget, the Senate resolution does not repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would prevent more than 20 million Americans from getting health insurance. The House version would eliminate grants for up to 1 million college students while the Senate plan protects Pell grants. The House version would kick up to 24 million Americans off of Medicaid while the Senate budget would protect their benefits. The Senate budget calls for new revenue while the House version would provide trillions of dollars in tax breaks mainly for the wealthiest Americans and profitable corporations offset by increased taxes on the middle class.

The conference committee includes 14 Democrats, 14 Republicans and two independent senators who caucus with Democrats: Sanders and Sen. Angus King of Maine..."


I can see how public support could offset the lobbyists, since this committee's makeup is evenly partisan.

But the budget differences between the House and Senate show to me the solid hold that the rich and their lobbyists have upon the House. The differences look intractable. Even with public polling. I'm not usually defeatist, but this looks to be more more "budget showdown" activity.