Defiant House Progressives To Nancy Pelosi: We Will Not Vote To Cut Social Security Benefits

[Report1212]

The battle begins

--

Earlier today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she would support President Obama’s proposed Social Security benefit cuts — even arguing that using the “chained CPI” would not be a benefit cut after previously telling President Obama “that House Democrats will not vote for any trims to future benefits in Medicare or Social Security, even a tweak to the cost-of-living index,” according to her hometown paper.

A defiant Congressional Progressive Caucus — which has 75 Members in the House — pushed back, releasing a statement declaring:

Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) are standing up against a proposal to cut Social Security benefits by changing the way we calculate inflation…Tying Social Security to chained CPI is a benefit cut and members of the CPC will not vote for a deal that cuts the benefits that millions of Americans rely on.

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/defiant-house-progressives-to-nancy-pelosi-we-will-not-vote-to-cut-social-security-benefits/

UPDATE: There is a link in the article that you can click on that will let you make a phone call to your Member of Congress. DO IT. These people NEED US AT THEIR BACKS.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. In the mean time

Boner says he'll push forward with a vote on plan B.

[Report1212]

17. His plan is DOA

Thank goodness.

[PoliticAverse]

2. How many also said they wouldn't vote for a health care bill without a public option ? n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. I thought of that too, but..

That was a case of arguing that social justice was not being adaquately advanced. It was murky to claim we would have been better off without Obamacare than with it. This time it's clear cut, because it clearly cuts the income of people who are vulnerable. I hope the progressives do stand tough, it is that important a stand to make, bit on this issue in particular and also to draw a line in the sand that they can not be expected to always roll over to accomodate the President's desire to meet the Republicans half way when the public clearly opposes their proposals.

[Report1212]

7. This time, even if all votes fail, we win

The incentives are different. And I think we can win this. There's a link in the article to make a call to your Member of Congress.

DO IT.

[xtraxritical]

67. I'm not wasting my breath calling Ken Calvert.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

63. x2

[kenny blankenship]

72. Yep.

Each time they've caved, clubbed into it by Captain Caveman.

"But this time we mean it!" Oh OK, then let's see what you got.

[Autumn]

3. Sounds like no one is buying what Obama and Pelosi are selling

thank goodness for that. K/R

[TDale313]

5. I love that they're saying it.

Unfortunately they're not enough by themselves to stop this. But, if they/we speak loudly enough, and if some teabaggers refuse to support a deal for their own reasons, then maybe? Also, hoping we could maybe see something positive in the Senate.

[Report1212]

12. There are GOPers who will probably vote against any deal

Let us pray they are large in number

[customerserviceguy]

32. That's the most likely scenario I can see

Both sides will pick out the parts of the deal that they like, and will refuse to vote for it on that basis. That will hold until January 1, and we will go off the cliff.

However, I expect that things are going to get very uncomfortable by mid-February, and I expect that the blame that will lie with the Repukes on MLK Day will shift to the President by Valentine's Day.

[whathehell]

55. I don't care if the blame shifts to the president by Valentine's day.

If he tries to cut old people and disabled vets on social secuirty, he DESERVES to be blamed!

[customerserviceguy]

58. Well, then what do you think

he should offer to the other side, to get them to close the deal?

Military-only cuts? Extra taxes on businesses? Raises in the FICA tax rates and caps?

I doubt they're going to warm up to that much. Ultimately, they have the weapon of refusing to raise the debt ceiling. I'll admit, for a little while, there will be more tax revenue from expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts, but they'll be offset by the double dip recession. The President's not going to let his second term play out that way.

[whathehell]

69. He could try these instead:

Eight Deficit reducers that would be more ethical and more effective than Chained CPI:


http://blog.ourfuture.org/20121218/nine-chained-cpi-alternatives-that-are-more-ethical-and-save-more-money

[customerserviceguy]

70. I'll give you credit

for coming back with ideas instead of bluster, I get the latter often here.

As for those suggestions:

1. Capital gains loopholes: I'm with you all the way on this "carried interest" scam, I had been a tax accountant back in the 1980's, and I never heard of it until Mitt. But doing away with all capital gains exemptions would grind the economy to a halt. I can see shifting back to a higher percentage being taxable, but not a full rescission of the break.

2. Refuse to compromise above $250K: Too late, the President's already signaled that he's amenable to a number somewhere between there and $1 million, with Democratic Senators from high-wage/high expenses states like NY and CA, it will win him support there to make it half a million or so.

3. Reduce foreign military bases: I like it, especially for the list of countries suggested, particularly South Korea, which is not a war-torn little country, like it was sixty years ago. Germany provides us with logistical support for Mideast missions, especially hospital treatment. Bases in Japan are important for dealing with China as it becomes more powerful. But there is a sizable pot of money to be saved by not being the world's policeman the way we were in the Sixties.

4. Negotiating with drug companies: Illusory savings, because whatever Big Pharma is jacking off of Medicare, they'd shift over to Obamacare as it grows. That's the whole problem with ANY medical cutbacks that just pit one group of patients off against the others, costs get shifted to whoever can get shafted the most. Ultimately, that becomes government in another form, as providers figure out how to play rules to maximize reimbursement.

5. General military budget cuts: I'm fine with that, but the way they've been going so strong for so long is that they cleverly figured out how to parcel the spending among the Congressional districts. We would need something like that commission that closed bases to spring up, and broaden its reach to weapons systems, etc. Still, a lot of the military budget is in pensions and medical benefits for veterans, and I just can't see cutting them.

6. "Fairness in Taxation Act": A beautiful idea, and workable if it were only not a fact that rich people buy congresscritters. Therefore, it's just a pretty dream.

7. Corporate tax loopholes: That sounds nice, but where are the specifics? There's a fundamental principle of fairness that says that legitimate expenses one has in producing business income are equitable deductions from the gross income produced by the sale of the final goods and/or services. I'd like to see some solid examples of how we're giving deductions to corporations for things that they're not actually spending money on (which becomes somebody else's potentially taxable income) before I entertain this idea as being even remotely feasible.

8. Financial transactions tax: Nice idea, but why limit it to high-volume traders? Why not impose differential rates on various transactions? For example, if I buy (and then later sell) a stock, I'm actually investing in a firm that I expect to produce valuable goods and services that I expect the public will want enough to pay a profit to the company providing them. I'd give this the lowest financial transaction tax rate. Now, if I "short" a company, I'm just making a bet that they're going to do poorly, and I'm rewarded for their failure. Tax the hell out of that. And when we get into all kinds of fancy-ass options trading, where no actual stock is ever bought or sold, then that really needs to be nearly taxed out of existence.

Maybe the idea of itemized deductions needs to go away. Medical is practically worthless anymore ever since they put in the 10% of AGI rule, and deductibility of home mortgage interest and real estate taxes has pumped up the bubble that we've seen deflate over the last several years. And why should anyone be allowed to exempt income that they voluntarily give to some church?

[limpyhobbler]

34. LOL start calling gop members of congress

tell them they better not vote for ANY tax increases.

[forestpath]

6. I hope they can be trusted. After all the betrayals we have had today I am shellshocked.

[TheKentuckian]

9. Trust is a dangerous sentiment for a citizen to feel for a politician.

I have to advise against it at all times. If you must trust then trust but verify and have the foot for that ass at the ready.

[forestpath]

11. I know. I do trust Bernie Sanders completely. That's about it.

[shireen]

29. +1

Me too. Bernie is the best.

[bvar22]

22. Trust?

It took Congress, with Democratic Majorities in BOTH Houses, less than a week to deliver A TRILLION FUCKING DOLLARS to a Wall Street Extortionist after receiving a 3 page ransom note threatening THEIR 1% Portfolios.

[G_j]

36. +1000

[leftstreet]

45. +1

[CrispyQ]

47. Nancy & Harry. Look at their faces.

I haven't trusted Nancy since she took something off the table.

[99Forever]

57. Ding Ding Ding

Screw us over at your own peril Democrats.

Don't claim you haven't been warned.

[plethoro]

64. I do not trust either of them............nft

ddddddddddd

[MotherPetrie]

8. Thanks for posting this. I have emailed my rep (who is a member of this caucus) to express my thanks

and my opposition to the president's proposal.

[Report1212]

13. There is also a link in the article to pitch in a few bucks

To those who are standing strong. We know corporate lobbyists will punish them for opposing a bad deal.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. I hope they stick to it. And I don't care who...

*cough! Obama* they "embarrass" or "betray."

[freshwest]

14. And my representatives, as always, remain progressive!

Last edited Thu Dec 20, 2012, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't have to scream. They've got us covered.

I hope those not represented by the people on this link below will consider calling their senators and representatives now. Especially if they are not in the CPC or are in the GOP:

Congressional Progressive Caucus

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest membership organization within the Democratic Caucus in the United States Congress with 76 declared members. They work to advance progressive liberal issues and positions.[1]

The CPC is currently co-chaired by U.S. Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN). It was founded in 1991 and has grown steadily since then, having more recently added 20 members since 2005 and having hired its first full-time Executive Director, Bill Goold, in May of that year.

Of the 20 standing committees of the House in the 111th Congress, 10 were chaired by members of the CPC. Those chairmen were replaced when the Republicans took control of the House in the 112th Congress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus

Those who stayed home in 2010 let ten be replaced by baggers, diluting their influence. Staying home again will lose more in 2014. For everyone's sake, stay involved. Grover is counting on the media to get people to stay home to install Tea Party Two.

[Report1212]

15. Who is it? nt

[AnotherMcIntosh]

52. Although I voted in 2010, I'm not going to criticize those who stayed home after the betrayals.

It's the fault of the Democratic Party politicians who went Republican-lite, not those who wanted policies different from those of the Republicans.

So Obama is going to betray us, senior leaders in the Senate and House are going to go along with this, and all of us are supposed to just STFU and show up to vote again in 2014?

If you want more people to show up and vote for Democrats, how about contacting some of the Democrats in the Senate and House to convince them to do the right thing?

[Poll_Blind]

16. .

PB

[Politicub]

18. Hold the Whitehouse's feet to the fire, Nancy!

Clearly she heard from her constituents. Keeping calling your congresscritters.

[Report1212]

19. No, you misread it

Nancy is with Obama. The Progressive Caucus is basically saying this to Nancy/Obama.

[Bake]

54. Her constituents said fuck seniors?

Because that's what chained CPI does.

Bake

[judesedit]

20. Thank you progressives

[Report1212]

21. They're the best nt

[reformist2]

23. Would Obama dare sign legislation with more Repug support than Dem?!

This is a great development. Obama is feeling the pressure.

[Report1212]

31. He did it with trade deals nt

[defacto7]

24. oh gawd...

K&R

[Lifelong Protester]

25. I have called, emailed, signed petitions

I am on it daily.

[Jakes Progress]

26. And here we've been told

that it was the nasty old congress that kept Obama from being all liberal and stuff.

Hmmmm.

[allinthegame]

27. My Congressman

Adam Schiff hears from me daily...and for good measure so does the President...keep those calls...emails...letters flowing...

[MrSlayer]

28. The house progressive positions should be this party's standard positions.

They shouldn't be the "left" position, they should be the default Democratic position.

That they're not just shows how off the rails we've gone. This should still be the party of Roosevelt and Wallace, not the party of corporate robber barons.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

37. Bumping your post for truth.

Too bad we don't have a Labor Party in this country.

[Oilwellian]

30. Unfortunately...

there are still enough Third Wayers in the House & Senate to help pass this travesty. Wouldn't it be something if Bernie Sanders filibusters and Harry imposes the new filibuster rules? It's not out of the realm of possibilities.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

38. Harry can't impose the new filibuster rules ....

... until after the new Congress is in session.

Thank God for small technicalities, eh?

[former9thward]

68. It would have to be more than Sanders.

A filibuster can be defeated by 60 votes.

[JDPriestly]

33. Progressive Caucus Members -- long list. Hooray! Support them all.

Caucus Members
Co-Chairs

Keith Ellison

Raúl Grijalva
Vice Chairs

Tammy Baldwin

Judy Chu

William “Lacy” Clay

Sheila Jackson-Lee

Chellie Pingree
Whip

Hank Johnson
Senate Member

Bernie Sanders
House Members

Karen Bass

Xavier Becerra (JDPriestly's best of the best)

Earl Blumenauer

Suzanne Bonamici

Corrine Brown

Michael Capuano

Andre Carson

Donna Christensen

Hansen Clarke

Yvette Clarke

Emanuel Cleaver

David Cicilline

Steve Cohen

John Conyers

Elijah Cummings

Danny Davis

Peter DeFazio

Rosa DeLauro

Donna Edwards

Sam Farr

Chaka Fattah

Bob Filner

Barney Frank

Marcia Fudge

Luis Gutierrez

Janice Hahn

Maurice Hinchey

Mazie Hirono

Rush Holt

Michael Honda

Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Eddie Bernice Johnson

Marcy Kaptur

Dennis Kucinich

Barbara Lee

John Lewis

David Loebsack

Ben Ray Lujan

Carolyn Maloney

Ed Markey

Jim McDermott

James McGovern

Brad Miller

George Miller

Gwen Moore

Jim Moran

Jerrold Nadler

Eleanor Holmes Norton

John Olver

Frank Pallone

Ed Pastor

Jared Polis

Charles Rangel

Laura Richardson

Lucille Roybal-Allard

Linda Sanchez

Jan Schakowsky

Jose Serrano

Louise Slaughter

Pete Stark

Bennie Thompson

John Tierney

Nydia Velazquez

Maxine Waters

Mel Watt

Peter Welch

Lynn Woolsey

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71

[Peregrine Took]

62. Where is Bobby Rush?

Of course, my blue dog, Quigley isn't there.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

35. I hope the CPC holds up like a stone wall.

What the fuck is wrong with Obama???

He's fucking doing it again.

Nothing has to be done before the end of the year! Social Security doesn't contribute to the deficit. So, why do anything at all?

I'm so fucking pissed right now.

[blackspade]

39. Awesome.

[cese]

40. cese

I will not VOTE for any Politician that votes for SS cuts

[Report1212]

41. Call and tell YOUR MEMBER that!

There's a link to do that in the blog post

[ieoeja]

42. Majority of House Democrats disgree with Nancy. Time to fire her as Minority Leader. n/t

[plethoro]

65. Time for Pelosi to hit the trail.................nft

dddddddd

[WillyT]

43. HUGE K & R !!!

[harun]

44. It is bizarro world that this is even part of the discussion about the gov't barrowing

money to pay for what Congress has already approved as the budget.

Won't hear that one from the Corporate media.

[Coyotl]

46. "Take away ONE DIME and I will never vote for the Dems again!" is the message they need from us!

Compromise does not mean F**K Thyself"

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

48. Phone Congress now!

[Bobbie Jo]

49. .

[defacto7]

50. K&R

[toby jo]

51. Hell - a friend & I were just discussing how much money would be raised

by taxing off-shore accounts. He just got his masters in economics and said they spent some 6 weeks going over offshore accounts. If every account had just $450,000 in it, and were taxed at the top rate, about 35%, it would raise 3.2 trillion dollars.

And these dicks are taking our social security? Why? If grams & gramps get it they will overspend or something?

To pay for their discretionary wars, among other shitty things.

Yeah, we need a labor party, a FU party, a purely progressive party....

[ReRe]

53. Nancy Nancy Nancy

[kentuck]

56. Good for them!

Take back the damn Party!

[Sherman A1]

59. K&R

[Peregrine Took]

60. Cannot find the words to say how much I loathe millionaire Pelosi.

I've always thought she seemed like a huge phony and that simpering manner and voice of hers.

[plethoro]

66. I always did too. She is now proving it. She and Obama may well cause a 2014

bloodbath. Reid, I am not so sure about.

[yardwork]

61. Good. Call Congress right fucking now!

[kenny blankenship]

71. Good news. Although if they ACTUALLY FOLLOW THRU

and MEAN it, it would be something of a first for them.