Is Sen. Kerry poised to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare?

[Mass]

http://bluemassgroup.com/2011/11/is-sen-kerry-poised-to-cut-social-security-medicaid-and-medicare/

Is Sen. Kerry poised to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare?
sue-kennedy | Fri, Nov 4, 2011 12:00 PM EST
Social Security is a Trust Fund that is funded by workers and their employers and held in trust to pay for our national retirement, disability and life insurance program – is separate from the budget and does not add to the deficit.

The downturn in the economy has left many Massachusetts families struggling to get by month to month, 1/4 of all households live on Social Security income and 1/3 receive health care partially funded by the government. While the wealthiest have enjoyed tax cuts and bailouts, those struggling to pay their bills are being asked to give more. Those who have lost their jobs and their homes have already given their fair share, they shouldn’t be asked to give up their health care and retirement also. It’s time for those prospering at a time when so many are suffering to give a little.

Who is Senator Kerry going to stand with? Recent stories suggest Kerry is moving towards a deal that would cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

lease call Senator Kerry, [phone] and tell him to protect the most vulnerable, protect Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare from cuts, and ask wealthy individuals and corporations to pay their fair share.
Recommended by amberpaw, carl_offner, paulsimmons.

I am a big fan of Kerry, but, given the number of reports that have been left unanswered or only answered with lip service on the fact he would be ready to cut a grand bargain, calling his office and making clear this is not an acceptable solution would be a good think

I am not saying he will. I am saying there is nothing to lose making sure he gets the message he should not do it. Either it will reinforce his opposition to a grand bargain, or it will put him on notice if he wants to do it.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. He said on Meet the Press that entitlements are the US's only

long-term financial problem.

I guess he got his.

[Mass]

2. I think he may be right, given the way it is paid for.,

Lift the cap would be an acceptable solution. However, service cuts is not.

[flpoljunkie]

4. The Dems must lift the cap w/wo donut hole.Romney has promised no new taxes to fund Social Security.

Romney's word means little, of course, but Grover Norquist would hold his and Congress' feet to the fire.' Norquist owns the Republican party; they are his 'bitches.'

[MannyGoldstein]

7. There's zero problems with Social Security - check my sig for details

The problem with Medicare and Medicaid are the costs of health care - Americans pay twice per capita for health care vs. the average industrialized country, far more than any other country in the world, and our medical outcomes are crappy on whole.

[Mass]

9. The cap is wrong. Or do you think millionaires should not pay more than

people earning $ 100K a year.

I dont disagree with your analysis of the situation for Medicare and Medicaid. But this is a much larger issue than this negotiation.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Raising the cap would be great

But that's not the conversation our government is having now, they want to slash benefits.

Social Security is solvent for as far as the eye can see if we use uncooked numbers.

[karynnj]

19. That is taken pretty out of context

The fact is that Medicare - as is - is not stable for the long term. Kerry has many times spoken of that this is best dealt with by trying to control the costs of health care in general. There are many things the guy heading Medicare, who was recess appointed, is doing to cut costs - while actually delivering better - not worse - care.

[MannyGoldstein]

27. I don't believe that it's taken out of context. Here's the quote:

"And the real problem for our country is not the short-term debt. We can deal with that. It's the long-term debt. It's the structural debt of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid measured against the demographics of our nation. That, then juxtaposed to the lack of jobs and job creation and growth. That's our problem, structural."

Kerry doesn't say that the problem is that health care costs 16% of GDP instead of 7% - he says that it's the debt caused those costs. Also he claims that Social Security is causing debt, which is complete and utter BS.

Nor does he mention that military spending is killing us - literally and figuratively.

[karynnj]

34. You make the point that Kerry said

The current Medicare and Medicaid - as it is - is higher than it should be. There are ways to lower those costs that do not harm people. One was discussed in the Finance committee when they debated the healthcare bill. Both Medicare and Medicaid negotiate drug prices. Bill Nelson, a conservative Democrat if there was one, introduced an amendment in committee to save billions of dollars by having the dual ineligibles (ie those who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare) to get the lower Medicaid rates. This would have saved BOTH the elderly poor and the government, because the copay was also lower. Kerry spoke in favor of it. It was defeated with Carper and Menendez voting with the Republicans.

It is not Kerry's fault that the US does not have single payer - as Bernie Sanders says, there were less than 10 Senators who would have voted for it - and Kerry was on the record as one.

He is not saving that these programs have existing debts - what he is saying is that structurally, using demographics, there is a problem that needs to be fixed. Kerry has spoken in MANY Senate speeches saying that SS is solvent many years into the future - and with minor tweeks would be solvent into the next century. This leads me to want to know the full discussion with the Globe reporter, who has often reported quotes out of their full context in open Senate meeting where the full discussion could be heard.

[Major Hogwash]

29. It doesn't matter, there will be no agreement that comes out of the Super Duper Committee.

The Democrats are demanding tax increases, and the Republicans are refusing to allow any tax increases.
Nothing has changed from their perspective positions in the regular House of Representatives or the Senate.

So, the odds of the Super Duper Committee agreeing on anything, in order to agree with the whole thing, are less than Sister Sarah becoming the first woman President of the United States.
The Super Duper Committee is not going to be a big firecracker, it is going to be a dud that fizzles out.

That's why Senator Kerry is on the committee, to make sure that tax increases are included, or there will be no final agreement whatsoever.
And then the automatic cuts across the board will take place, without Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid being involved with those automatic cuts.

Congress can't act due to the historic level of GOP partisanship.
There is no way that any Democrats on that Super Duper committee will agree to go back on 76 years of supporting Social Security, or all of those years of supporting Medicare, or all of those years of supporting of Medicaid just because the tea party coalition has successfully pulled a coup d'etat on the Republican party.

[karynnj]

35. Very good post

I think that the agreement protects only Medicaid and SS from the automatic cuts. (This was part of the August agreement - and it surprised me that Medicaid, but not Medicare was protected.)

[Faygo Kid]

3. I really think the "supercommittee" is ready to throw Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid overboard

Most Dems don't have the stomach for a fight, and we know the GOP thugs are chomping at the bit to kill those programs. And they are monolithic.

We are in some very deep stuff right now.

[Beacool]

11. Over their dead political bodies!!!

That's the third rail in politics and any politician should be beware of the consequences to anyone voting to slash SS and Medicare.

x(

[woo me with science]

32. Every politician who supports this crap needs to go.

We will continue to have theft for exactly as long as we keep voting for thieves.

[Autumn]

5. I think so. n/t

[cheapdate]

6. There's no way in hell Kerry is going to throw old people under any bus...

Kerry has talked about being open to considering changes to improve Social Security and Medicare. He is NOT using the word "improve" in the perverted sense that Republicans use the word. He's talking about considering if there are changes that can be made to the regulations that will improve the programs in any way.

[great white snark]

8. Thank you.

Social Security can be improved by cutting out waste and fraud. The most nefarious interpretation of a word like "improve" should be reserved for the Republicans and NOT one of our good guys like Senator Kerry.

[karynnj]

21. That's how I have understood his comments on this

He also seems to be very concerned that there be a piece in the solution that stimulates the economy. He and Van Hollen raised the fact that one cause of the high deficit is that we are so far from full employment. This raises unemployment and welfare costs while lowering revenue. In the second to last open hearing he got a response from the OMB witness that the stimulus did create jobs and that without it the deficit would be higher. He also asked about the impact of raising taxes on the 1%.

[YvonneCa]

22. Same here. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

31. Agreed. The hyperventilating around here is based on

the assumption that the Dems and R's are all of one mind with the same intent to throw the old and poor to the wolves, and that the President is the evil ringleader.

:eyes:

The lack of rational thought about this is disappointing.

[wisteria]

12. I personally feel changes have to be made in order for all of them to survive and reach those in nee...

I will wait to see exactly what is purposed.I don't think Senator Kerry would make any decision of this magnitude without considering the people who barely survive on these benefits.

[woo me with science]

15. "I will wait to see exactly what is purposed." (sic)

What has been PROPOSED has been in the papers already multiple times. It includes a chained CPI that will cut Social Security benefits, as well as cuts to Medicare and Medicaid (The percentage of Medicare cuts targeted directly at beneficiaries has been raised to 50 percent). Overall, the cuts could come to as much as 550 BILLION dollars.

The Super Theft Committee is now working on a deadline and will let us know when they have made a DECISION about these cuts. If you are waiting for a formal proposal to the American people, after which we will have time to debate the issue and decide whether we like it or not, you are blissfully unaware of how things work in Amerika now.

The time to protest is NOW (and yesterday).

[Mass]

16. Nothing wrong in calling and making clear what you want.

I dont think he would do something he thinks would be wrong for people, but I also know he likes to be reasonable and there is no being reasonable when the other side is not.

[YvonneCa]

23. I agree. The other side is totally...

...unreasonable. And irresponsible. I could continue... :7

[Hoyt]

13. I too think Kerry will do what is right for the country.

And, I hope they do look at SS, Medicare, Medicaid and every other aspect of the economy. The projections that some cite on solvency of SS, etc., mean nothing if the economy continues like it is now. I support increasing taxes on those who can afford it, cutting military, etc. But that alone will not put on solid ground unless the economy improves.

It may be too much to hope for, but what if the Super Committee suddenly got smart and came out with a proposal for a single payer, or at least a public option, that really reformed the way health care is delivered. The so-called Catfood Commission -- that was supposedly going to slash the hell out of everything -- recommended a public option along with a big cut in the military budget. The catfooders even recommend SS increases for those on the low end of the scale.

While I could draw SS right now, I need to keep working and an improved economy is best for that. Perhaps more importantly, the younger folks who will be carrying the ball need to have some hope too.

I'm going to trust folks like Kerry to do what is best.

[YvonneCa]

24. "I'm going to trust folks like Kerry to do what is best." Kerry...

...has great integrity. We have a representative democracy. Kerry is one I trust to represent us well.

[OwnedByFerrets]

37. O M G, are you really serious?

[Hoyt]

38. Pretty much.

[thelordofhell]

14. No

[woo me with science]

17. This is a moral issue.

Any politician who backs this crap needs to go. Period.

[politicasista]

18. Was curious in another thread,

but people thought me was going to stab the Senator in the back when that wasn't the case. :shrug:


Haven't been up on these issues due to work and living two cool Boomers. :), but hopefully, he will do what is right in the end. Wish everyone the best.

[YvonneCa]

25. ...

... :hi:

[politicasista]

26. ...

:hi:

Hope you are doing well. :grouphug:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. CUT futile war spending FIRST!

[BlueIris]

28. His decision here will be critical. It's hard for me to believe he'll support cuts, but after HCR

anything is possible. He has changed a lot over the years. I used to trust his judgment completely. That is no longer the case. I think this is his last significant chance to demonstrate that he has his priorities in order.

[karynnj]

30. Kerry was the most progressive/liberal voice on HCR on the Finance committee

I know that because I watched the entire set of hearings. I don't see that he has changed much at all since 2004. I think what has changed since is what can pass Congress. Even as we gained a large majority in 2008 - the overall Senate was not really more progressive than it was in - say - 1993. The current Senate - even with a Democratic majority is more reactionary than anything other than maybe the one in 2005-2006. Many Senators have said it is the worst they have seen.

That leaves people like Kerry with really two choices. 1) take purist positions even if they can't pass. If he did this, he would be as popular as Bernie Sanders here, but he would rarely real make anything better than if he were not there. 2) He can take on the frustrating jobs of trying to find compromises that are better - though not good enough - than what otherwise would happen.

I am impressed that Kerry requested being on the committee - knowing it was a political lose/lose proposition. He did not have to do that - he easily could have pointed out that he was chair of a very important committee and the lead sponsor on the important infrastructure bank. Kerry accepting this job knew their was no political gain and he was certainly smart enough to see it was a minefield. The only reason he likely agreed was that he really was one of the better people in the Senate to possibly find a better solution. I am not optimistic that they will as the Republicans really do not care if they drive the country off the cliff - they likely see enough resilience that they think the country would bounce back - under the Republican President elected due to the bad economics.

[YvonneCa]

33. Great post, karynnj. I, too, took comfort when...

...I saw that Kerry was on the committee. I posted this in another thread:

I was VERY glad that Senator Kerry was put on the committee. I trust his understanding of the issues, his integrity, and his history of being on the side of fairness. Some of the union leaders' comments sound like they feel that way, too.

Maybe I am naive, but I trust the Senator to be fair...to do what is right. I am glad the unions are marching, being loud and making the case for SS, etc....although I suspect JK already knows their concerns. Their being LOUD helps create the space for him to defend these programs (not that he isn't probably already doing so). But the final compromise...IMO...will be better if it seems people want it.

I voted for Jerry Brown for the same reasons. If reform of our economy is needed...and I believe it is to be sustainable...I want a Dem with integrity to make those decisions. Brown is taking a lot of flack for his pensions proposals...but he VERY MUCH supports fairness, involvement of citizens, and is not dismantling collective bargaining in order to make change.

I'm pretty sure Senator Kerry is fighting a similar fight. I am grateful for that.

Link to the article about unions... http://bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/11/04/kerry-urged-drive-hard-bargain-deficit/d2VU5vok5RF0ADgCSfTeKL/story.html

[OwnedByFerrets]

36. When the people we THINK are on our side are making these statements

we the people are in HUGE trouble.