"Catfood Commission" Recommends "Add a robust public option and/or all-payer system in the exchange"

[jberryhill]

Page 36:

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/CoChair_Draft.pdf

[SidDithers]

1. K&R...nt

Sid

[madfloridian]

2. In exchange for cutting SS for present retirees? No deal at all.

Throw a bone to seniors and/or the poor?

[jberryhill]

4. I'm surprised at how fast you managed to read it all

I'm not done with it yet, since I prefer to read it myself.

It's not presented as a "deal" of any kind.

It is a report that suggests a number of things.

I agree with a Public Option.

I agree with cutting the V-22 Osprey program.

I agree with doubling Sec. Gates' proposed procurement cuts.

I agree with cutting the Marine Corps version of the F-35 program.

I haven't sorted it all out yet, but admire those who can so rapidly analyze stuff like this.

I'm sure there are things in it with which I disagree.

But I think a Public Option is a really, really good idea.

Perhaps you might look at it as a "menu" and not a "deal".

You don't like the Public Option?

[elehhhhna]

9. it also proposes reinstating survivor's benefits for the duration of their

college aducation. This was part of SS in the 70's & 80's and should never have been cut, imo.

[county worker]

10. Anything that takes away income from the middle class is wrong!

Cutting benefits or raising taxes on the middle class is wrong. The spending and tax cuts that caused the deficit went to the wealthy and corporations. They should bare the weight of the pay back. The middle class lost buying power and savings and income because of the policies of the years after Bush was handed a surplus.

The income gap grew and now the commission wants to make it grow even wider buy making the middle class pay back what the wealthy took for themselves!

[Exilednight]

11. Fairly big text, Even at 74% magnification, it's still like a 40 font. LOL Here's my suggestion ..

Take it down to a standard 12 font and use 2/3 less paper to print it.

[madfloridian]

13. Sorry, but cutting SS to present retirees is unacceptable.

And I can not even get past that.

It's so outrageous to cut it while we are bailing out banks, while we are funding two useless wars....that the rest of the report means nothing.

It is dead wrong.

Seniors are scared enough now and they don't need this.

[jberryhill]

15. I agree with you

But if by "this" you mean "everything in the report", then I'm curious about your lack of support for the public option.

Show me the "everything in this report must be accepted in toto" part.

[mzmolly]

19. There is an interesting tidbit that the media hasn't noted.

Hardship exemption for those unable to work beyond 62

Not to mention.

Add new protections for the most vulnerable:

Add a new special minimum benefit to keep full-career minimum wage workers above the poverty threshold.

Wage-index the minimum benefit to make sure it is effective both now and in the future.

Provide a benefit boost to older retirees most at risk of outliving other retirement resources.

Do we have a hardship exemption now? :shrug:

Off to continue reading. If you're interested the SS portion begins on page 43.

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/CoChair_Draft.pdf

An interesting aside. The media mangled this yesterday.

Limit mortgage deduction to exclude second residences, home equity loans, and mortgages over $500,000

The way the media reported this, the exclusion appeared to pertain to first mortgages. I have no problem with the actual proposal.

[madfloridian]

27. I will not defend the cuts to SS.

They pay in all their working lives, and they can't get a hardship exemption until 62? Yes, people can get disability now. It's hard but possible.

[mzmolly]

28. Neither will I. I will not defend an increase in the retirement age so that

millionaires can have tax cuts.

[treestar]

3. Now why does that provision not get equal play?

Interesting.

[Bozita]

5. Catnip often induces a temporary state of euphoria.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. ...

:evilgrin:

[JackRiddler]

6. Good for them.

The inclusion of different items on the menu doesn't require ordering all of them.

[jberryhill]

8. Agreed

In the breakout of "example" cuts, there are:

47. Cancel the Marine Corps version of the F-35.
44. End procurement of the V-22 Osprey.
45. Cancel the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
51. Reduce military personnel stationed at overseas bases in Europe and Asia by one-third.
33. Require food processing facilities to finance food safety and inspection services.
25. Drop wealthier communities from the Community Development Block Grant program.
23. Cut research funding for fossil fuels.
16. Eliminate the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools.
42. Double Secretary Gates’ cuts to defense contracting.

...and I've only spent about 15 minutes with the thing.

[mzmolly]

12. Yeargh!

I like the sound of them apples. ;)

Off to read the report. Thanks jberryhill. :hi:

[madfloridian]

14. That does NOT make cutting SS to present retirees okay.

It should not even be considered.

Obama is sounding weak.

[jberryhill]

16. No, it does not make that okay

Obama isn't "sounding" like anything other than someone who is in discussions with South Korea at the moment.

[madfloridian]

18. That was a weak statement which indicated he will not stand up for SS

And that will be his downfall and the party's downfall.

I don't care if DU crusades on how it is just fine and dandy to play word games with seniors. It is enough. Let the party keep this up and so much harm will be done it will be irreparable.

I have no sense of humor about game playing.

[David__77]

17. 1 part sugar, 99 parts shit.

It's still shit.

[Better Believe It]

20. That's a throw away to liberals. Congress and President Obama won't support that.

[Faryn Balyncd]

21. You OMITTED: "If Costs have grown faster than targets (on average previous 5 YEARS) . . .

....require president to submit and Congress to consider reforms...such as:"

(Note that at least 5 YEARS AFTER Social Security has been gutted for the middle class, this is listed as one option for the then-president/Congress to consider.)

It is absolutely INCORRECT to state that a public option something the commission is now recommending (As a matter of fact, there were 5 possible things they mentioned for the president and Congress to consider at some later date after 5 years of unmet targets, and this was, interestingly, mentioned just after CHARGING PREMIUMS FOR MEDICARE (which they euphemistically label "developing a premium support system for Medicare", presumably Part A, handily ignoring the fact that Medicare Part B has ALWAYS HAD a premium).

[slipslidingaway]

25. Exactly! If and when - maybe after 2020, then submit to Congress ...

Page 36

Long-Term Health Care Savings

Set global target for total federal health expenditures after 2020 (Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, exchange subsidies, employer health exclusion), and review costs every 2 years. Keep growth to GDP+1%.

If costs have grown faster than targets (on average of previous 5 years), require President to submit and Congress to consider reforms to lower spending, such as:

Increase premiums (or further increase cost-sharing)

Overhaul the fee-for-service system

Develop a premium support system for Medicare

Add a robust public option and/or all-payer system in the exchange

Further expand authority of IPAB

[mzmolly]

26. At least there is a formal (even bipartisan) argument that

supports the notion that a public option will help contain costs. In fact, it could be argued that we should implement this containment measure, as part of any debt reduction bill that is offered?

[jeff47]

30. At least there's a bipartisan argument

That perhaps, someday we should consider maybe forming a study group to look at the possibility of perhaps forming a commission to may hold hearings on the need to consider a proposal where perhaps a public option should be considered, along with several other non-public-option solutions that would screw over the people while protecting our donors.

Boy, that's something to get excited about!!

[mzmolly]

31. Of course the cynics don't care if we have a renewed potential

for a public option. Adding such a proposal to a debt relief package would not inspire any support from you, would it?

[jeff47]

34. No, if it actually appeared in any sort of bill, I would be ecstatic

But we are talking about a near footnote in a proposal that has been widely renounced by both parties, from a commission that has no authority and with the super-majority requirements, will not be able to send any substantial recommendations to Congress.

There is no renewed potential here. The potential for a public option happens after businesses are allowed to insure their employees through the exchanges, which if I remember correctly occurs in 2016.

[mzmolly]

37. I'll await the President's

review. At the very least, WE have something to beat our public servants over the head with. This alone, gives it potential as far as I'm concerned. ;)

[meow mix]

22. lol im sure it will be vigorously pursued

good luck with that obama certainly wont support it

[Greyhound]

23. You need some kind of carrot to distract from the big stick.

http://www.africanamericanimages.com/aai/willie%20lynch.htm">Just another division...

[alfredo]

36. Gin usually works for me.

[supernova]

24. Only if expenses growth is greater than 1% of GDP

They recommend the public option or single payer as a way to stop rapid growth of costs that would exceed what's happening now.

The likelihood of that happening is very good if the insurance cos keep up the double digit premium increases.

[jberryhill]

29. "The likelihood of that happening is very good"

Correct.

We have a habit of not fixing things until they actually break.

That's not new.

[laughingliberal]

33. No, I see they keep going in to 'fix' SS years before it MIGHT break. nt

[librechik]

32. more evidence that THEY KNOW what would help, they just won't give it to us

because their real constituency are the rich who give big corporate donations to the parties

[grahamhgreen]

35. That just means force everyone to buy private crapsurance that never paysout if you really get sick!

[StarsInHerHair]

38. kicked

I know the President is intelligent, I hope he's now "listening" & understands he is never going to make friends with the GOP while in office, & he sees how the "austerity" measures have sliced away quality-of-life standards in the EU. Be the president you said you were & let the wealthiest tax cuts naturally expire.