Democrats Resisting Obama on Social Security

[biopowertoday]

I am in agreement--hands off Soc Security!




http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/us/politics/23social.html?_r=1&ref=politics&pagewanted=print

February 23, 2009


Democrats Resisting Obama on Social Security
By JACKIE CALMES

WASHINGTON — President Obama is eager to seek a bipartisan solution to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security, people who have spoken with him say, but he is running into opposition from his party’s left and from Democratic Congressional leaders who contend that his political capital would be better spent on health care and other priorities.

Mr. Obama considered announcing the formation of a Social Security task force at a White House “fiscal responsibility summit” that he will convene on Monday. But several Democrats said that idea had been shelved, partly because of objections from House and Senate leaders.

The president signaled in his campaign that he would support addressing the retirement system’s looming financing shortfall, in part by applying payroll taxes to incomes above $250,000. But that would ignite intense opposition from Republicans, especially with the economy deep in recession.

Liberal Democrats are already serving notice that they will be equally vehement in opposing any reductions in scheduled benefits for future retirees. But any solution, budget analysts said, must include a mix of both approaches, though current beneficiaries would see no change. .................

[PretzelWarrior]

1. I say make both sides unhappy and do the right thing. In 2013.

Or do the things the Republicans hate AFTER you've got a few more "wins" under your belt and then go after the Dems sacred cows in 2nd term.

There is no getting around that THIS HAS TO BE DEALT WITH. You can't just wish it away.

[biopowertoday]

3. and since it is still running a surplus and good shape till 2041-it can wait.

.............Social Security still runs a surplus, and its reserves will not be exhausted until 2041, after which enough payroll taxes will come in to cover 78 percent of benefits, according to the 2008 annual report of the program trustees. Medicare, by contrast, requires big infusions from general revenues each year; its hospital trust fund is already running annual deficits and will be exhausted by 2019.

[windbreeze]

16. Throw the private medical ins. companies OUT of medicare...along with

medicare advantage programs...problem solved...wb

[biopowertoday]

22. that is not in the stars. NYT: Health Care Industry in SECRET Talks to Shape Policy

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/us/politics/20health.html?_r=1&ref=health&pagewanted=print


February 20, 2009
Health Care Industry in Talks to Shape Policy
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON — Since last fall, many of the leading figures in the nation’s long-running health care debate have been meeting secretly in a Senate hearing room. Now, with the blessing of the Senate’s leading proponent of universal health insurance, Edward M. Kennedy, they appear to be inching toward a consensus that could reshape the debate.

Many of the parties, from big insurance companies to lobbyists for consumers, doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, are embracing the idea that comprehensive health care legislation should include a requirement that every American carry insurance.

.........
The talks, which are taking place behind closed doors, are unusual. Lobbyists for a wide range of interest groups — some of which were involved in defeating national health legislation in 1993-4 — are meeting with the staff of Mr. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a search for common ground.

.................

[tonysam]

23. There IS no "problem" to fix, only Republican and Cato Institute lies.

I am surprised at how easily people fall for the Cato Institute lies about Social Security.

[AllentownJake]

2. Use your political capital on Healthcare

Don't fuck with Social Security.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Don't fuck with benefits, but bring in more income by raising the cap.

And push for health care.

[AllentownJake]

10. Economy, Health Care, Energy

those are the order of priorities...after you've done what you want there...talk about other things.

[avaistheone1]

21. That would be the right thing for Obama to do.

In fact that is what Obama said he would do during his campaign.

So let's hope he follows through.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Raise the Cap. Raise the Cap. Raise the Cap.

During a neighborhood house party with our congressman yesterday on issue that garnered near unanimous support was social security.

To the notion of raising the cap so that payroll taxes are collected above the current level, we all chanted.

Raise the Cap!

OBAMA: What I have proposed is that we raise the cap on the payroll tax, because right now millionaires and billionaires don’t have to pay beyond $97,000 a year. Now most firefighters & teachers, they’re not making over $100,000 a year. In fact, only 6% of the population does. And I’ve also said that I’d be willing to look at exempting people who are making slightly above that.

Q: But that’s a tax on people under $250,000.

OBAMA: That’s why I would look at potentially exempting those who are in between. This is an option that I would strongly consider, because the alternatives, like raising the retirement age, or cutting benefits, or raising the payroll tax on everybody, including people making less than $97,000 a year--those are not good policy options.

Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary Apr 16, 2008

http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/barack_obama_social_security.htm

[Captain Hilts]

9. And also raise the floor. nt

[NYC_SKP]

14. Yes, I'd support that, too. n/t

[w4rma]

5. The payroll tax cap needs to be eliminated. That should be seperate from any debate on SS. nt

[Captain Hilts]

7. GOOD! Republicans can't be trusted with it. They wanted to invest it in the market! nt

[FrenchieCat]

8. The cap will be raised, and Medicaire Part "D" will be addressed.....

And benefits will not be diminished, except for those who don't need them because they have the money already.

the New York Times is full of shit, as its headline belies the answer within its article...."The president signaled in his campaign that he would support addressing the retirement system’s looming financing shortfall, in part by applying payroll taxes to incomes above $250,000."

[yy4me]

11. Changing Social Security would be the end of many of us.

Like so many,I am now alone. I have been recently laid off also.

If any reduction is made in the benefit I get from SS will be the end of things for me. As it is, it is difficult to keep everything together. I have made every economy I can think of.

Next I would have to stop buying my medicine. I can't afford part D w/Medicare so I but generics whenever I can from the pharmacies that have the special $4.00 plans.

Maybe I should not heat my house or not buy any food. I don't buy much as it is.

I could get rid of the car, I guess. Then I'd be stuck in the house all the time. I do not live walking distance to anything except other houses.

Dropped to basic cable TV, it is so bad that I suppose I could drop that but if I do, my internet provider will up the cost of Internet service so I'm better off keeping it. Having Internet is my source of news and entertainment.

Good grief, I know many are in worse shape but it is hard to get near the end of the road and hit this economic brick wall.

[YvonneCa]

18. I worried a lot when Bush was trying to privatize...

...Social Security. But I think Obama has different ideas about how to keep it solvent. Most Democrats do not want privatization...and changes would likely not affect anyone already on Social Security.

I'm sorry things are so difficult right now.:hug: Hang in there, we've no where to go but up! :7

[tonysam]

25. Yep. I can't believe Obama would EVER entertain this shit.

If there were a problem, all the feds would have to do is require all state and local employees to participate in the system. Eleven states or maybe fourteen or fifteen, I don't remember the exact number (including California and Nevada), are now allowed to opt out of the system for their employees, but, as people probably know, those employees are screwed if they have worked in both these states and in companies or states which do pay into it. Their Social Security benefits are reduced or even eliminated if they don't pay into SS by working at least 30 years in jobs which pay into it.

[Unsane]

12. Something needs to be done about the SS disability backlog.

Some people wait years before they ever get a benefit-determination hearing.

[high density]

13. I'll say what I said when Bush started talking about it...

Where the heck did this come from? I agree we can't kick these issues endlessly "down the road," but this timing just seems strange.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Because the deficits down the road include Trillions due to

these entitlement.

If Obama can raise the cap, and reform Medicaire Part "D", that would get rid of trillions in expected Deficits.

I wrote about some of that here....http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8206100

[YvonneCa]

19. We want the Democrats to do the fixing...

...of SS because Repubs want to privatize it. For the first time, we can probably get the votes to fix it right. If we fix it now, with Obama, it will no longer be at risk of privatization under the next Republican president. That's my opinion.

[biopowertoday]

20. WH needs to take more $$ from the "locked box" that

is not really locked (has not been since 1969)--which has been making the true budget.

Obama said he is for transparency. I await to see how much.

[4lbs]

17. Increase the cap to $1 million and lower the rate to 10%.

You'll still bring in about $50 billion extra annually.

Meanwhile, everyone making less than $100K will pay less in SS taxes, 1.2% less. Their employer too.

[TahitiNut]

26. Really bad idea. Not good. Terrible.

BAD idea. The Social Security funding mechanism relies on FAIR payroll compensation.
"There is always a well-known solution to every human problem -- neat, plausible, and wrong."

[anonymous171]

24. This and gun control should be shoved to the very bottom of the agenda.

In fact stupid bullshit like that shouldn't even be on the agenda.

[Politicub]

27. This reminds me of Clinton and Welfare Reform

I didn't like that Clinton was the dem that "reformed" welfare, and I don't like that Obama may be the dem to "reform" Social Security. Republicans could never get away with this on their own - it will take a dem to dismantle social safety net programs.

[olkaz]

28. I don't see any problem with raising the elgibility age

People are living longer than SS was originally intended for.

There are common sense changes that can be made to help the program.

[Median Democrat]

29. Raise Taxes Or Cut Benefits - Simple Policy Choice - Or, A Little Of Both

The Republicans have falsely stated that Social Security is going to go broke suggesting that it will disappear. It won't. The real question is when costs exceed revenues, what do you do? Raise taxes, cut benefits or run a deficit. I think that the retirement age should be raised to reflect the longer life expectancy of Americans, which has increased since social security was enacted. Likewise, there should be a moderate in crease in social security taxes.

A little of both.

[WCGreen]

30. Lower the rate and get rid of the cap....

[PBS Poll-435]

31. Leave Social Security alone until the much larger problems are fixed

He may be a 'Pub, but I love me some David Walker. I know that the entitlement portion of the budget will severely handicap our ability to meet future obligations.

This current crisis could cause us to not be able to meet current obligations.


I mean, shit, some states are delaying paying tax refunds on overcollected tax. Could the Federal Gov't be far behind?

[EndElectoral]

32. Raising the cap is essential...

[PBS Poll-435]

33. It is raised every year.

This year the limit was raised from $102,000 -> 106,800.