Russ Feingold: "Social Security's Biggest Threat: The Debt Deal Super Committee"

[jtown1123]

Huffington Post

Russ Feingold

Social Security's Biggest Threat: The Debt Deal Super Committee

<SNIP>

Yet the so-called Super Committee, which will be appointed by congressional leaders in both parties to consider additional budget cuts, will enjoy authority that no other entity or special legislative process has ever had: it will have the power to propose Social Security reductions that are guaranteed an up-or-down vote in the Senate, and therefore can be adopted by a simple majority. And unlike most measures in the Senate, the Super Committee's recommendations related to Social Security will not be subject to unlimited debate - a standard protection against drastic action. Further, no amendments will be allowed. Make no mistake, those who crafted and agreed to the Super Committee were well aware of this and there can be no doubt Republicans plan to take full advantage.

So ultimately, if the Super Committee's recommendations propose cuts to Social Security, the only means to block them would be to strike down the entire Super Committee bill. But there's a dangerous trapdoor - failing to enact the overall Super Committee bill would trigger automatic across-the-board cuts that will be strongly opposed by powerful constituencies.

In short, unless congressional leaders appoint progressives willing to stand up to moneyed interests, the Super Committee will be nothing less than a chopping block for Social Security.

Here's how it would work: assuming all 6 Republican appointees support Social Security cuts, it would only take one Democratic appointee to include them in the committee's final recommendation. Once cuts to Social Security are included in that final Super Committee bill, the Senate's 47 Republicans would need just four Democrats to produce the majority needed to pass them, and unfortunately finding those four Democrats probably is not all that difficult.

And ironically, the inability to amend the Super Committee legislation will provide some senators with the perfect excuse: "I didn't like the Social Security cuts, but I had to accept them as part of the entire bill."

THE REST: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russ-feingold/social-securitys-biggest_b_917419.html

[polichick]

1. Sure would love to see Feingold as a principled Dem primary challenger...

...even if the prez got the nomination in the end.

[chill_wind]

2. And just so we know, Reid is claiming first-hand credit for coming up with this proposal.

I've posted the link to his direct quote in WAPO press interview a couple times already.

So we need to contemplate that a little.

Make no mistake, those who crafted and agreed to the Super Committee were well aware of this and there can be no doubt Republicans plan to take full advantage.

Less anyone is skeptical:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1656180&mesg_id=1658608

[jtown1123]

4. It's incredibly troubling that so few Democrats will stick to their principles n/t

[BNJMN]

8. Yeah. Where's our 'Grover Norquist', with shady corporate strings organizing a pact w/ Satan?

Or wait, they called it a 'pledge' didn't they?

Kind of hard to negotiate with suicide bombers.
Game Theory 101.

Easier to kick down a barn than build one.
And on and on.

It's amazing that anything gets better.
And yet, no more segregation, no more 7 day work weeks.

[indepat]

3. That this was structured to assure social security would be eviscerated is almost as certain

as the sun rising in the east tomorrow. :patriot:

[jtown1123]

5. Yes. The sooner everyone knows this the better. n/t.

[Little Star]

6. Russ needs to primary Obama!

The last paragraph says:
"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi understands this, and has promised that each of the Democrats she appoints to the Super Committee will oppose entitlement benefit cuts. Democrats should urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to make the same commitment." America's most cherished social program must be protected.



Do you trust Nancy's promise? Harry won't even make the promise! We are in deep shit!

[Broderick]

7. Learning to trust no one here

Blow smoke all the time and point fingers all day. We are pawns in the bilking mechanism.

[midnight]

9. This new approach to destroying the lives of the lesser people

appears to be very un-American and makes me wonder about the legality of it.

[jtown1123]

10. It's legal, just really immoral. n/t