News Archives: Tagged Chained CPI
McClatchy: Obama’s bid to squeeze Social Security enrages his core backers
Prominent liberal activists – among them groups, such as MoveOn.org and Democracy for America, that helped Obama gain re-election in November – view his willingness to reduce future Social Security payments as a betrayal of core Democratic commitments to help the needy and ease the burdens of old age. The groups are vowing to run primary challengers against Democratic members of Congress who back the president’s controversial quest. “Social Security is a key part of the Democratic legacy and a vital lifeline to millions of Americans,” Stephanie Taylor, a co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told McClatchy on Thursday. “Any Democrat who votes for such a plan should be ready for a primary challenge.” [more]
Report: Obama’s Social Security Benefit Cuts Would Disproportionately Harm African Americans
Momentum continues to build against President Obama’s proposed chained CPI cut to Social Security and veterans benefits, with 40 Members of Congress endorsing the Grayson-Takano letter rejecting any cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits. The think tank Global Policy Solutions released a report today that should cast further doubt on chained CPI. It … [more]
THE MILWAUKEE-WISCONSIN JOURNAL SENTINEL: Liberals pressure Gwen Moore to pledge to oppose all cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid benefits
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a liberal political action committee, is asking its supporters to call U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) and urge her to sign the so-called Grayson-Takano letter.
“Representative Gwen Moore has not yet signed the letter, and she is hurting the ability of progressive leaders to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits,” the email to supporters says.
The letter, to be sent to President Barack Obama, is signed by 39 Democratic House members, including Alan Grayson of Florida and Mark Takano of California. [more]
POLL: Clear Majority Of Americans Oppose Chained CPI
As progressive, senior, and veterans groups mobilize against the chained CPI — a recalculation of veterans and Social Security programs that would result in a benefits cut — a new poll finds that a majority of Americans opposes this change. The Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that 51 percent of Americans oppose chained CPI and … [more]
Obama Budget Cuts Social Security By $200 Billion, But Gives The Pentagon Twice That Much
President Obama has proposed enacting chained CPI, which would reduce spending on Social Security benefits by $200 billion over the next ten years. This has provoked outrage from progressive groups, and from groups representing seniors and veterans (whose benefits are also impacted by this change). But something that has gotten less attention is the fact … [more]
Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter: ‘I Will Not Vote For A Budget That Supports Chained CPI’
New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter (D-NH) released a statement this week saying that she cannot vote for any budget that includes chained CPI, as Obama’s does: “I believe a budget should reflect America’s values of fairness and opportunity. It should create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and keep our commitment to seniors. “There has … [more]
Sheldon Whitehouse: I ‘Cannot Support’ A Bill With Chained CPI
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced his opposition to a budget proposal with chained CPI today. Here’s a statement he issued on the matter: “I made a promise to the people of Rhode Island that I would always oppose cuts to Social Security, and I’m going to keep that promise. Social Security is fully solvent … [more]
NATIONAL JOURNAL DAILY: Progressives Fight Obama on Entitlements with Eye on 2014
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America are two grassroots progressive groups threatening to back a primary challenge to any Democrat who votes to use the chained CPI measure. “If people don’t represent their constituents back home and pursue an agenda of cutting Social Security benefits,… then, yeah, there needs to be accountability in 2014, and we’re very serious,” said PCCC cofounder Adam Green. He added that his group has already taken the first step by asking people who signed the petition if they would be willing to run for Congress to defend entitlements. More than 1,300 members said yes, he said. [more]
Republicans Preview 2014 Election Strategy: Democrats Want To Cut Social Security Benefits
By introducing a proposal to use chained CPI to cut Social Security and veterans benefits, President Obama is handing the Republican Party a rallying cry to run on in 2014. In the past 24 hours, leading Republican lawmakers, right-wing pundits, and conservative activists have latched onto the chained CPI proposal to attack Democrats: Rep. Greg … [more]
Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman: ‘I Will Vote Against’ Chained CPI
Yesterday, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) vowed to vote against chained CPI, issuing a statement saying, “While there is much in the President’s budget to admire, I strongly oppose chained CPI, and I will vote against these benefit cuts should they come before the House.” That puts the number of Members of the House of Representatives who … [more]
