Many deficit commission staffers paid by outside groups

[FreeStateDemocrat]

Source: Washington Post

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 10, 2010; 8:12 PM

The leaders of President Obama's deficit commission sparked criticism from both sides of the political aisle Wednesday for proposing broad cuts to federal programs
But the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform has also come under attack for its unusual approach to staffing: Many of its employees aren't employed by the panel at all.

Instead, about one in four commission staffers is paid by outside entities, many of which have strong ideological points of view about how to tackle the deficit.

For example, the salaries of two senior staffers, Marc Goldwein and Ed Lorenzen, are paid by private groups that have previously advocated cuts to entitlement programs. Lorenzen is paid by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, while Goldwein is paid by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which is also partly funded by the Peterson group.

The outsourcing has come under sharp criticism from seniors' organizations and liberal activists, who say the strategy is part of a broader conservative bias favoring painful entitlement cuts over other solutions. The fears of some liberal groups appeared to come true on Wednesday, when the commission's two leaders recommended significant reductions for Social Security and other social-welfare programs.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111006850.html?hpid=topnews

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Looks like BO fucked-up again. Never thought I would say this but is there any chance Hillary will run in 2012 then BO can go after the Puke party nomination where he belongs.

[Lasher]

1. It wouldn't make any difference to elect Hillary

Her economic philosophy is closely related to Obama's. Paul Krugman, Bernie Sanders and Alan Grayson would all be better choices.

[countrydad58]

9. So true!

Cut out of the same DLC scumbag mold!

[Carolina]

15. exactly, Bill and Hilliary helped

create the DLC!

[saigon68]

2. Hope the seniors will enjoy their new "Cat Food" Entitlement

[NorthCarolina]

3. Hillary???

No thank you. She is as tied to the DLC ideology as Obama is. She would never get my vote...EVER.

[chill_wind]

4. K & R. What is this WH love affair for Pete Peterson and his spawn,

of all f*cking men?

[SpiralHawk]

5. "Smirk." - RepubliCorpsters

eom

[nyc 4 Biden]

6. Wouldn't go as far to call BO a GOPer

But I am starting to think he would have been better in the role as SOS. Not that I want Hillary as POTUS. I actually don't know who I'd want as POTUS.

[David__77]

7. ABOLISH the commission now, President Obama!

He politically owns this report - he must DISOWN it now and abolish the austerity commission.

[yurbud]

8. good find, but why do you think Hillary would be any different apart from style?

[countrydad58]

10. Yeah ,Bill

could shed a few tears for us,while we get fucked.While Obama has his little arrogant Bush smirk,while we get fucked!

[Iowa]

11. Yep. He may as well just switch parties and be done with it.

[kiranon]

12. Excuse the commission from further service as a cost saving measure

and that its draft recommendations will be added to the mix of many recommendations the President will consider in drafting his proposals.

[gratuitous]

13. I wonder how many Commission members are dependent on social security?

Well, that's probably irrelevant.

[Catherina]

14. Good information. Bookmarked. n/t