Pelosi could feel pressure over plan to form a task force on entitlements

[slipslidingaway]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-could-feel-pressure-over-plan-to-form-a-task-force-on-entitlements-2009-02-03.html

"Momentum is shifting against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the debate over creating a bipartisan task force to reform Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

President Obama, who did not support the idea during the campaign, has made several moves of late showing he’s more open to a commission. A turnabout by the president would put pressure on Pelosi, who opposes the idea....

Obama on Tuesday tapped Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), who has proposed such a panel, to become Commerce secretary. Obama cited the commission proposal by Gregg and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) while lobbying Senate Republicans on the stimulus behind closed doors, according to Gregg’s account. And the president said he’ll host a fiscal responsibility summit with Gregg, Conrad and Blue Dog Democrats — also supporters of a commission — later this month....

The commission, which also has the backing of several conservative House Republicans, would include members of both parties and the administration. The House proposal for the commission, put forth by Reps. Cooper and Frank Wolf (R-Va.), would include members from outside government. Whatever plan the commission comes up with, Congress would have limited opportunities to amend the Cooper-Wolf proposal before voting on it.

Under the Conrad-Gregg proposal, the task force’s plan could not be amended..."

[Mojorabbit]

1. There will be a revolt

If this decreases benefits.

[terisan]

3. Social Security is sound until after 2040 . This congress should keep its mnoney grubbing hands off

Medicare needs adjustments.

I think the finance guys still wan to get to invest som of the social security payments---what a disaster that would be.

[slipslidingaway]

6. Agree, beware of those who mention the 2017 date as a problem

for social security.

[slipslidingaway]

4. Could be, depends on how it is sold to the people :( n/t

[bluestateguy]

2. Bipartisan commissions almost never work

The 9/11 commission saw many of their recommendations implemented, but that was the exception, not the rule.

Usually, a "blue ribbon" commission (who gets to wear the ribbon, BTW?) is convened with much fanfare. There are the usual suspects of old Washington Establishmentarians. No ordinary people, mind you. No, no. It's Vernon Jordan. Gary Hart. John Lehman. Chuck Robb. Richard BenVeniste. Warren Rudman. Sandra Day O'Connor. James Baker. Lee Hamilton. Warren Christopher. Colin Powell. You get the drift.

Hearings are held. Much paper is pushed.

Then, voila! The commission produces... (drums please) a REPORT! Chock full of recommendations and blathering psychobabble diagnosing a problem that anybody with a half a brian already knows exists.

Congress then throws the report in the trash can, and it is retired to a lonely shelf in the Library of Congress to gather dust.

[slipslidingaway]

5. More talk of entitlement reforms and more talk of the need to

pour additional money into the banks, nice summary of the commission.