http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/hoyer-dems-united-against-entitlement-benefit-cuts-in-debt-fight.phpHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has been clear for weeks that entitlement benefit cuts -- reducing the guarantees promised to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid beneficiaries -- are off the table in high-stakes negotiations to raise the national debt limit and avoid a catastrophic default.
But several Democrats have been on the record for years saying they'd consider or accept certain benefit cuts as part of a broad, balanced package to address long-term deficits. And that's raised the question of whether Pelosi would be able to hold the line if President Obama throws his weight behind cutting entitlement benefits as part of a "grand bargain" to reduce deficits by up to $4 trillion this decade.
Pelosi's lieutenant, Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), is one of the Dems who in the past has called for benefit cuts to be on the table -- alongside tax revenues, and savings -- as part of a bipartisan plan to bring the budget into balance. Today, though, he said he's with Pelosi 100 percent in the current fight, even if Republicans agree to a "grand bargain" that includes new tax revenue.
"We have made it very clear that we have no intention of supporting cuts in beneficiaries' benefits," Hoyer said at his Tuesday press briefing, in response to a question from TPM.
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