Liberal groups mobilize for ‘fiscal cliff’ fight over Social Security, Medicare

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With President Obama seeking a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, liberal groups that campaigned aggressively for his reelection are mobilizing to oppose concessions they fear he could make on Medicare and Social Security.

Leaders of the nation’s labor unions and other liberal groups are planning Tuesday to press Obama at the White House to reject the kind of cuts in Medicare and Social Security that he has previously offered to make. On Thursday, left-leaning lawmakers and seniors groups plan to rally on Capitol Hill against any changes to entitlements.

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“We will make it very clear we will not be supportive of cuts to Medicare and Social Security,” said Sen. Bernard Sanders (Vt.), an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. “It would be a huge shock and disappointment if the president forgot the reality that he just won a major victory.”

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“We will give the president and his allies in Congress all the support and cover in the world in the fight for no more tax cuts for the rich. That includes, in particular, supporting the president’s position that it’s better to negotiate past December 31 st than do a deal that’s bad for the country,” said a top labor official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment ahead Wednesday’s meeting. “On the other hand, the answer for those who want to cut social insurance benefits in an economic crisis and increase economic insecurity is, ‘Hell no.’ ”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/liberal-groups-mobilize-for-fiscal-cliff-fight-over-social-security-medicare/2012/11/12/b2c98f64-2cf7-11e2-89d4-040c9330702a_print.html

[Honeycombe8]

1. Someone got a copy of what Obama offered last year, that Repubs turned down.

It included a raise in the age of Social Security. It also involved a reworking of the COLA.

I heard this on TV this morning or last night. Was it Bob Woodward? Or who? Someone got a copy of the "deal" offered last year.

I bet the Repubs wish they had taken it last year, because this year they won't get as much. I think last year Obama's team also offered something like $10 to $1 cuts vs. increase in revenue.

This year he's floated 2 1/2 times increased revenue, I heard.

Who knows?