While the rumors that Obama offered to hike the eligibility age of medicare by two years still remain unsourced (AFAIK), we do know the chained CPI proposal was confirmed as being part of the Biden Talks with Democrats.
See:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1454340Smokescreen? Are we being softened up on our own side for what more Dems might be likely to vote for- and for what we would inevitably be told was "the absolute necessary lesser of two compromise evils" by its defenders? "Eat your peas and shut up. It could have been so much worse!!"
Any takers?
It's had support in both parties before.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1454340"And, the great thing was that Congress could do this cut by claiming it was just a technical adjustment."
(Dean Baker)