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House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-MD (photo: NASA HQ via Flickr)
Yesterday House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer seems to have came out strongly against any debt ceiling plan that cuts Social Security or Medicare benefits. From The Hill:
“We have made it very clear that we have no intention of supporting [a bill] that cuts beneficiaries’ benefits,” Hoyer told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday. The comments represent a subtle but significant change in Hoyer’s approach to the negotiating table. As recently as last week, the Democratic whip was being careful not to rule out any policy options during the contentious debt talks — a position shared by President Obama.
The new-found opposition to benefit cuts from Hoyer would be a welcome development — if it is actually a true opposition to all cuts. The problem is that House Democrats have been flirting with cutting Social Security by changing the cost of living adjustment (COLA), while at the same time pretending this plan to give people on Social Security smaller and smaller checks every year doesn’t count as a “cut.” As Nancy Pelosi said recently (via CBS News):
When asked if changing the Social Security formula for cost of living adjustments was a de facto benefit cut, Pelosi did not directly answer. “No. Cutting benefits is exactly that. Cutting benefits,” Pelosi said. “There’s concern in my caucus about what would happen with the CPI (consumer price index). Some think it is a benefit cut, others do not.“
Similarly, the Gang of Six is already trying to say that changing the COLA is not a benefit cut, by claiming a shift to the Chained-CPI would just be adopting a “more accurate measure of inflation.” The real danger facing Social Security is not that Congress will approve something they openly acknowledge is a cut to benefits. The real threat right now is that they will approve a big stealth cut by changing the COLA and simply lie by saying that isn’t really a cut.
If Hoyer will publicly admit that changing the COLA is an obvious cut in benefits then his new stance is positive news. Without that statement about COLA, however, all Hoyer’s statement is a cynical empty gesture to score political points, which in the end could make this COLA cut to Social Security all the more likely.
I called Hoyer’s office this morning to ask if he considers cutting the COLA a benefit cut, but haven’t received a response.
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The LA Times: “The White House signaled Wednesday that President Obama could accept a short-term deal to raise the debt ceiling, but only if it appeared lawmakers were close to an agreement on a significant deficit reduction plan.”
Seems Obama is determine to screw the aged and sick – perhaps because that annoys the Democratic Party base – that “professional left” that has no place else to go.
Don’t think he believes he is going to lose votes. Was reading the other day that Independents lean heavily Democratic so he will lose a lot of them, too. He must be nuts to think this is not going to hurt him badly.
The silence is telling
Why doesn’t anyone point out the obvious about substitution and “chained-CPI”??
Using the “substitution” method will ALWAYS be more stable, because then in essence you’re measuring spending habits, not prices. OF COURSE someone who has only a limited amount to spend each month substitutes. Sometimes it’s even food for medicine or reversed. Taken to it’s logical conclusion then, there will be ZERO inflation as measured from these folks because they always spend the same amount each month.
A PRICE INDEX is supposed to measure changes in PRICES. Not spending habits. And if the cost of medicine goes up and seniors substitute over the counter cheap snake oil for medicine, THAT’S an inflation caused affect, even though they might be spending the same amount of dollars.
It’s BULLSHIT.
thank you for making the call. maybe it would help if you weren’t the only one asking….
(202) 225-4131
the left will never forgive or forget obama’s repug in sheep’s clothing betrayal of the American People. Karma is a good thing.
Yep. Obama is truly hell bent on “reforming”/”strengthening” Social Security. He announced it in January 2009 – AFTER he got elected.
Up is down. Down is up.
WH speak for 30 years, now adopted by Congress.
and I would be shocked if they do respond, Jon. I think your gut instinct may be right, that they’re just playing word games and will adjust the COLA anyway. Hope it isn’t, but after 2+ years of O’Sellout, “hope” has become just another four letter word for me.
My apologies to Dean Baker who wrote the report from which I lifted this paragraph about the impact of chained CPI on COLAs for SS:
“The proposed cuts to Social Security are cumulative. This means that after ten years, a beneficiary in her 70s will see a cut of close to 3 percent. After 20 years, the cuts for beneficiaries in their 80s will be close to 6 percent, while the reduction in annual benefits will be close to 9 percent by the time beneficiaries are in their 90s. For a beneficiary in her 90s living on a Social Security income of $15,000, this means a loss of more $1,200 a year in benefits.”
What a thought!
;)
You see this?
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/07/obama-in-perilous-shape.html
Taking its toll.
Does it really matter if Hoyer says he doesn’t support it? Should anyone believe him, or any Democratic member of the House for that matter? When the public option was on the line, everyone folded.
Two totally unrelated, but does anyone have a URL for how the House Dems voted, that *isn’t* a .gov site?
I have to go to the hospital today, but tomorrow I plan on calling all those effing people.
Don’t know how in the hell I’m going to survive these SS cuts and Medicare cuts, and the AZ (AHCCCS) Medicaid cuts…
Also, what’s happening with cuts to veterans? Is it going to be the same as the cuts for me? No one is mentioning veterans much (beyond FDL). (Thankfully some people beyond FDL are mentioning these cuts are also for the disabled, not just “old folks” – We’ll all be on the streets before long.)
Anyhow, I don’t understand what’s going on with cuts for veterans, but need to know since my fiance is a disabled veteran.
Things have been crazy here, and there’s so much new crap happening daily that it’s hard to keep up.
TIA for any info!
Need a war cry DC can understand:
“And you thought NY-26 was a game changer with the Ryan Budget…This is going to be a bloodbath.”
Young intern-type person took my call, said she is the person taking calls on this for Steny Hoyer, listened patiently, asked me to rephrase so she understood, then put me on hold while she asked Hoyer’s office “do you support chained-CPI that will result in smaller cost of living adjustments?” Told the young woman I was calling on behalf of my mother-in-law and father-in-law who are both retired on Social Security & Medicare and who live in Maryland.
put in call at 4:19. will let you know what intern says …….
Thanks, selise! My @16 was meant to be a reply to your @5.
Thanks for the link and as it should take a toll but is anyone in the beltway listening except for the very few. Thanks going there, pretty brave;)
have to admit, when i see Obama so disengaged and listless in his recent speeches, i wonder if deep down he’d be happy to be a one-term President and retire to his lifetime of economic security, provided his Ego gets a place in the History books as “the one” who “fixed” social security.
4:26 pm Hoyer’s staff person said: “He is against cutting any of these.” But she prefaced her answer by saying “I can’t speak for the Congressman directly.”
I’m quite partial to
Austerity This, Dickheads !
Just spoke with very nice young man in Steny Hoyer’s office and explained that people were watching very closely the language being used about “cuts”. I told them that we were educated voters and becoming more keenly attuned to semantics and weasel words. I told him that COLA adjustments were cuts in my book and not to expect my or many other Dem votes if there were cuts in SS, M or M. I used Kelly’s meme and said that the response to Paul Ryan’s budget would be nothing compared to the anger and outrage that would follow a sellout by Dems of the social safety net.
He took my number and will call me back. I’ll let you know what I hear.
Thanks for that, Fractal. Constituents are much more likely to get a response. Appreciate you taking the time to do that.
Thanks for the info, Jane.
I’m convinced that he wants to be the one termer who sacrificed himself to be a “game changer” that cut down “entitlements” to a “sustainable” size.
Should make for great speaking fees.
If he gets re-elected, bad luck but the fees are just delayed.
Excellent. Ditto what I said to Fractal above to you, OmAli. It’s going to be the district constituents who have the impact here. We appreciate you doing this. Let us know what you hear!
Just called my Senators:
Burr’s aide said that all the cuts to SS and Medicare were to strengthen them, which I said I disagreed with that. She was polite but I could tell she did not agree with me but said she would pass my views on to him.
Senator Hagen’s aide was polite and the aide said that Sen Hagen was opposed to cuts to SS and Medicare.
I just can’t believe that. Nobody wants to go through a national election and lose. It would be emotionally devastating no matter who you were.
That said, the political judgment of someone who would lead the party down this road is in serious question.
He couldn’t care less about the party. IMHO.
Spread the word. Most Americans have never heard of chained CPI accidently on purpose of course. Make everyone you know aware that the Democrats are going to cut Social Security benefits — what is it, 10% by the time you are 85 according to projections. Let people know this is a big deal. On purpose, this is going right by most Americans. They have this naive belief that Democrats will stop Republicans! Set them straight. Time for some facts out there.
This is deceitful, dishonest, bankster cheat the old lady in the fine print b.s. Americans deserve truth not tricks. And to think I thought Nixon was tricky.
Let people know they are going to be screwed by the folks who have been lying to them about their stand on Social Security.
I pointed out to my Senators that we all paid into SS and that it would be sound and viable if congress quit borrowing money from it. That all the cuts were an excuse to renege on their IOU’s.
I’m still clinging to my long ago prediction that he wouldn’t even run.
I realize that prediction doesn’t look very good now, but I still can imagine a scenario where he gets what he wants (cuts to Medicare and SS and lowers the deficit) and the polling afterwards indicates he can’t win, and so he announces he won’t run.
I know that’s about a 1 in a gazillion (is gazllion a word?*g*) but I’m still clinging to it.
thank you! and everyone else who calls!
It would be the ultimate “fuck you all, serfs” moment from the Bambster, and absolutely in character. The only thing better would be granting himself the power to designate his successor and concluding that as no woman ever had the job, better give it to Michelle (Bachmann, not his wife of course).
If he had any character he’d risk losing election by drawing a line in the sand and declaring he will not cut benefits for sick children and old ladies. I mean if you are going to lose, stand for something! Go down on principle! Become a martyr for a great cause. Let your defeat teach your values.
I don’t think he has a value other than expediency.
Won’t just be Hoyer. Barney F will mosey on up and vote for this in the end. Regardless of pseudo-assurances we wish to believe he already gave. Barney F will be there when the time comes.
Barney F is a strange one. I remember his “outrage” at the hearings on Madoff, when it was crystal clear spelled out to everyone that the SEC was a criminal enterprise. He looked so concerned and promised to leave no stone unturned! So where is the SEC these days then? I think most of them were able to crawl back under their respective rocks, undisturbed by Barney.
“They have this naive belief that Democrats will stop Republicans! Set them straight. Time for some facts out there”. “Let people know they are going to be screwed by the folks who have been lying to them about their stand on Social Security”
Jane did such a fabulous job on Ed Schult’s show last night. I wish she could have a nightly spot. This should be the next message to go out there. Well put, greenbell!
My husband disagrees, but I think that if Obama had an FDR moment he could still rally Dems, Indys and even Tea-O-P ers who have had enough of this bullshit! He could have us in the streets putting the fear of gods into the congress and senate alike.
You don’t set out to raise a billion dollars for your re-election if you’d be satisfied with one term. He doesn’t care about the party — what happens to Democrats in 2012. He wants to be the post partisan, transformational president who changes the trajectory of America.
Thanks. Sometimes I just get so sad that young people today never have known Democrats who fought for real values – King, Bobby, even LBJ. They were all flawed men but they weren’t these focus group created plastic men who stand in front of a sign saying “CHANGE” but don’t have the character to tell you that they meant change the dollars and cents on your Social Security check.
I would’ve sent a fax, too, except that runs on my Mac mini. My in-laws are actually in Chris Van Hollen’s district, but note Hoyer’s phone staff did specifically ask for names & contact data for my in-laws, which I am going to give Hoyer’s office as soon as I get consent.
Do we know how soon a vote might happen on this? The Hill last night had an item under the hed that Obama liked the Gang of Six deal which mentioned that Durbin claimed that the Gang of Six deal on the long-term deficit would NOT be in legislative format in time to beat the debt-ceiling deadline of Aug. 2.
This morning, the Hill covered Van Hollen saying essentially the same thing.
Two hours ago, the Hill ran an item under the hed that Obama could agree to a short-term debt ceiling deal, but only if a “grand bargain” was in the works, like the Gang of Six deal.
So Congress might be assuming some other fall-back debt ceiling deal will be voted on separately from any deficit deal. But it’s the usual do-si-do whack-a-mole between the House and Senate.
Weasels working on weasel words. Just don’t expect a black/white answer from Hoyer, Pelosi or Reid or their going against the Big 0.
Obama will become a Sr Fellow with the Peterson Foundation Jan 2013
anecdotally, Plouffe et al appear to be in Lead Balloon territory here -
I have seen dozens of the Fierce Pragmatist™ faction draw a line in the sand over this travesty – I’m not talking about the blackwaterdog photo diary groupies – am talking about long time party loyalists (the we’ll fix it later! crowd)who are calling this the final straw in rather unprecedented numbers
given Wall Street and bundlers, they wont suffer donation-wise but where in bloody hell are they going to get the phone bankers, lit droppers, door knockers this time around ?
I don’t know why Fox and other right-wing pundits keep thinking that Obama hates white people. This is untrue. What Obama hates are old people. This is not the first time I’ve seen his age bias appear. It first appeared in the primaries when Hillary was for universal care and he sponsored health care for children. Big difference. He sees himself as a President to all regardless of political affiliation. This lofty, high-minded attitude could make him President to none. He doesn’t believe those on the left will really vote for a tea-party crazy. He’s right. But the harm will come when the left’s apathy keeps us from the polls.
“We had to burn down the village to save the village.” Priceless!
That’s the talking point decided on by the gang of six.
Hoyer’s COLA comments may have been scripted for him, with his consent, but written by a bigger suit than he is. It may have been a run-it-up-the-flagpole proposal. Now he’s hearing from very bright and well-informed citizens — whereas he’s probably used to hearing from cranks and consumers.
Great work, Pups. Keep it up. The cream has risen.
Burr and Hoyer have their talking points
we have our commercials
Burr and Hoyer need to see themselves in a commercial stealing Grand Ma and Grand Pa social security with OBAMA laughing as they take it.
the image of Obama and Burr taking Grand Ma and Grand Pa social security money, will make it easy for anyone wanting his job to beat him.
Burr and Hoyer need to invest in U-Haul, a lot of Dems will be leaving DC with OBAMA in 2012, while a lot of real Dems will be coming to DC
Huh. M’kay. I guess if that’s how they roll, that’s how they roll …
A chained CPI is a benefit cut — but everyone seems to be ignoring the real sleeping tiger in the Cat Food Commission Report — and that is the new “cost-sharing” formula for Medicare. This is a real killer. I don’t go to doctors now because they cost so much and I must pay for them from my own pocket. I was counting on Medicare in 2 years so I could finally start seeing doctors. But with the new $500 doctor fee deductible, I will still be paying for doctors out of my own pocket. Their rationale for proposing this new deductible is that old people abuse Medicare by going to the doctor too much. Maybe they think we are bored and we do this out of sport. Rotten bastards.
“Why doesn’t anyone point out the obvious about substitution and ‘chained-CPI’??”
I propose the Chained CPI be renamed the Catfood CPI since eating catfood and drinking chicory because you can’t afford anything else would be no cause for concern according to it.
“Their rationale for proposing this new deductible is that old people abuse Medicare by going to the doctor too much.”
Welcome to Obamacare 2.0, which Obamacare 1.0 was basically the same thing of cost shifting rather than cost bending. According to Obama people were just getting too good of care before with standard healthcare and now he’s doing it again with Medicare.
Here’s a poll from B Sanders office I just received.
http://sanders.senate.gov/polls/index.cfm
The amazing thing is that for the last several years, most of the Progressive initiatives were also the smart political move. From the Public Option to exiting the Mid-East wars, hands off SS and Medicare, financial reform with teeth, investigating the crimes of Bushco – these issues not only poll highly but serve the dual purpose of punishing Repubs or strengthening Dems.
Ahh, I forgot, silly me, that Obama and the current leadership of the Dem Party has no desire to score political points against the Repubs because that would not be: 1. “Post-Partisan”, 2. The DC Village Mandarins and their Corporate Overlords would disapprove, and 3. At heart they’re really Reagan Republicans who aren’t allowed in the country club.
network news just now on the east coast said the Gang of Six deal includes Five Hundred Billion Dollars in cuts to Medicare and 243 Billion Dollars in cuts to Social Security. Holy Fuck!
I noticed NBC reported tonight about proposed CHANGES in Social Security.
The word is CUTS. If the “reporter” was a journalist instead of a press release reader, she would know the difference.
Remind me when I voted for this. But I do have to laugh when I keep hearing the spin word CHANGE Social Security rather than the truthful word CUT. You’d almost think our CHANGE President is a trifle vindictive.
The Gang of Six and their spin is all spin and no substance. They intend very much to CUT BENEFITS.
THE LIE IS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO.
Mr Obama cannot wait to cut our benefits. I wish to cut his.
I voted for him and I am now sorry.
He turned out to be a vacuous opportunist who cares more about his image than the people.
I am ashamed of the democratic party for their essential weakness and their taking their own base so for granted. Well This base member has had it.
I am now an independent. I will work for 3d party candidates and hope to remove the power of the two parties who have grown to misrepresent the people.
I am ashamed of the democrats who betray their own principles.
I am quite fed up as you can see.
How much more shameful is a group than one that would protect corporate CEO’s at the expense of the livelihood of the nation’s seniors.
We do have a death panel today it is OUR POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON WHO NOW ARE CALLING FOR THE VIRTUAL DEATH OF SENIORS
You were correct about NBC dodging the issue, but CBS said in the 6:30 broadcast on the east coast that there would be “cuts” in Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid of $243 Billion, and “cuts” to “health programs for the poor and retirees,” whatever those are, of $500 Billion. The CBS video is here (check the clip at 1:39).
What cola…there has not been one for two or three years…I haven read all the comments and don’t know if this has been addressed but…. In my house they have been cut for sometime. We are following a bunch of lying dogs off the cliff.
Honor, integrity do not exist in a room full of these bastards. Oh, sorry, I lost my head. I thought these were things one should aspire too. How stupid of me.
I just spoke to someone in Hoyer’s DC office (lovely young man), who told me, after checking, that the office personnel have not been told how Hoyer stands on whether the Chained COLA is a benefit cut. He suggested I keep on eye on Hoyer’s web site and that they’ve been getting quite a few calls on this issue. OR keep calling.
SO…CALL HIM. 202-225-4131.
I also called Pelosi (202 225-4965), but no human answered and the mail box is full.
I included my concerns that Obama’s actions on these great accomplishments of the Dem Party will lead to its destruction. Also mentioned the huge tax cuts Obama is so willing to give the wealthy, while sticking it to the little people.
I brought up the concept of “marginal utility,” that the last dollar to someone existing solely on SocSec is precious and utterly important, while to someone making even $150K a year barely notices that one dollar. That $100-200 dollars is make or break for the person on SocSec.
Guy said he would pass on my comments.
When and if inflation does kick in, COLA’s will be very important, especially to those existing solely on SocSec. But also to everyone who pays taxes.
If some of those cuts to Medicare come from Holy Joe Lieberman’s proposed changes to deductibles and legislating that supplemental plans (Medigap policies) will not be able to cover the deductibles, then they will be quite painful. As in Medicare insurees having to pay out $3,750 before any Medicare payments are made. He also suggested an excise tax on supplemental policies.
Oh, Holy Joe also wants to raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67!!! Scary shit, as I barely made it to 65 before buying individual insurance ate up my savings.
There will be hundreds of thousands of seniors facing collection agencies and/or forced onto Medicaid — which is also being cut.
Gotta love that Obama and his great ideas about completing St. Ronnie’s work!
I was surprised Bernie did not have a way to say NO CUTS to SS/MM.
Kind of disappointed as well…and now worried about his vote….
He hates “progressives” as well and, per Rahm, they don’t like Elizabeth Warren either.
I think he hates anyone he doesn’t work for, ie, and non-Uberwealthy people.