Dems, GOP continue sparring over cuts to Social Security admin

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/145229-house-democrats-republicans-continuing-sparring-over-proposed-cuts-to-social-security-administration

House Democrats and Republicans continued sparring over how deep the GOP's proposed cuts are to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the stopgap measure that is keeping the government running.

Democrats argue that Republicans' suggested cuts to the SSA's budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 are about 9.3 percent and could lead to furloughs, whereas Republicans say those spending cuts are only a fraction of that amount and wouldn't endanger the agency.

"The facts can be scary things when you try to hide them," said Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee ranking member Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.). "This hatchet job isn't trimming fat … it’s cutting deep into the bone of a recovering economy. A Republican budget that cuts Social Security and costs American jobs would be a nightmare if it weren’t true."

(snip)
"No matter how much Republicans try to shift the blame, they can't run away from the fact that this budget would wreak havoc on the agency charged with administering Social Security benefits," said Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sander Levin (D-Mich.).