Ezra Klein Agrees with Bob Kuttner: Social Security Cuts will Be in Obama's State of the Union

[jtown1123]

Washington Post

Cuts or investments at the State of the Union?

By Ezra Klein

Bob Kuttner says the White House is planning to propose Social Security cuts -- alongside a variety of other deficit-reduction efforts -- in the State of the Union. The political rationale is twofold: "to pre-empt an even more draconian set of budget cuts likely to be proposed by the incoming House Budget Committee chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan," and "to give Obama 'credit' for getting serious about deficit reduction."

I don't know who Kuttner's sources are, but the report is plausible. You might even add that the White House's reasons aren't just political: Many in the administration worry about the medium-term deficit and think it important to get started on deficit reduction, and on the specific case of Social Security, feel it's better to get the system back into balance when a Democrat is in the White House and Democrats control the Senate than in a world where Republicans hold more power.

I'm pretty hostile to most forms of Social Security cuts, for reasons I've explained previously. But that's not even my biggest worry here: If the Republicans are talking cuts and the Democrats are talking cuts, that means we're just talking cuts. Someone, however, needs to be talking investment. As Andy Stern has argued, we've got both a budget deficit and an investment deficit. Our infrastructure is crumbling. Our schools were in bad shape before the recession and they're in much worse shape now. R&D isn't where it needs to be, and nor is America's broadband system, or its energy grid.

It's important to avoid a fiscal crisis in the future. But it's also important to lay the foundations for continued growth. I can see the argument for the White House making some moves on the deficit in the State of the Union, but I'd feel a lot better if those moves were paired with an aggressive strategy for national investment. Putting aside the politics for a moment, the country itself needs more than the Republican agenda is willing to offer over the next few years. So pitting the Republican agenda against a kinder and gentler version of the Republican agenda just isn't good enough.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/12/cuts_or_investments_at_the_sta.html

[FiveGoodMen]

1. The poor should sacrifice so the rich can be richer

...and the illegal, pointless wars can continue.

Good thing we aren't hearing talk like that from Democrats!


What?


Oh!

[jtown1123]

4. Klein has always been like that. What's troubling is that Obama sees

him as a "progressive," which is fairly frightening. He mentioned Klein and Ariana Huffington as "progressives" who liked his tax deal in his press conference a few weeks ago. If he thinks they are the be all end all in progressive thinking, we have some trouble.

[FiveGoodMen]

8. If Obama thought Klein was progressive, they'd be at odds.

Progessives are "fucking retards" who need "drug testing".

If Obama calls Klein a progessive, that's because he hopes that we are fucking retarded and will fall for it.

[ProSense]

2. "Cuts or investments at the State of the Union?"

"I don't know who Kuttner's sources are, but the report is plausible."

That's not agreement, that more stupid speculation. Ezra's logic is off here too: "If the Republicans are talking cuts and the Democrats are talking cuts, that means we're just talking cuts."

Who is talking cuts?

[jtown1123]

6. Read the Deficit Commission proposals for Social Security then get back to me.

Both Obama and Steny Hoyer say they will look at these plans for deficit reduction. These plans rely heavily on cutting Social Security: http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/Analysis_of_Commission_Co_Chairs_Proposal/

[JuniperLea]

20. Keep trying...

You might convince one more person to hate Obama! Yay!

:eyes:

[jtown1123]

23. Do you work for the White House? I could care less who likes Obama or who doesn't

I want Social Security protected and fought for.

[Enrique]

10. thanks for reassuring us, ProSense

with your strong assurance that Obama will do the right thing, I will be able to sleep at night.

[ProSense]

26. "I will be able to sleep at night." Maybe you should rethink that. Cuts:

Social Security, other benefits checks to go paperless in May

By Ed O'Keefe

New recipients of Social Security and other federal benefits will have to accept paperless payments only starting in May, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.

As The Federal Eye has reported before, the Obama administration is pushing to make most government benefits payments paperless by 2013, including most federal paystubs.

The change will eventually impact about 136 million payments sent by the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board and Office of Personnel Management.

The move should cut about $48 million in government postage costs and save taxpayers approximately $303 million in the first five years after the switch, Treasury said. The change also should eliminate fears of lost or stolen checks and problems faced by displaced people.

Those already on Social Security will have until March 1, 2013 to make the switch to direct deposits or a debit card.

Saving on postage is a cut.

[JuniperLea]

19. Good catch...

It's seriously disturbing to see people getting whipped to a froth over speculation.

[jtown1123]

30. All indications made by Hoyer and other party leaders are that deficit reduction

is a big goal for 2011: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/20/AR2010122004591.html?hpid=sec-politics

Since Republicans refuse to raise taxes, ever, it should be interesting to see who "pays" to close our deficit.

We'll see where Obama stands pretty soon. I truly hope he does the right thing but I am not convinced. I have never heard him say that he will reject cuts.

[zipplewrath]

28. What part of "if" did you miss?

Yes, it's rampant speculation, sorta the stock and trade of Washington reporting these days.

It falls into that category of "pausible", but since just about everything is argued about every day in DC, that's a pretty low standard.

But if I'm predicting things for the State of the Union, it will be that DU will be arguing about the definitions of "cuts" and whether they are cuts if they are offset by other spending adjustments.

[ProSense]

32. "Yes, it's rampant speculation"

Glad you agree, which means I didn't miss a damn thing.

[jtown1123]

36. Read between the lines. All this talk of being "serious" and addressing

long term drivers of our deficit (which Obama said were Social Security and Medicare) lead me to believe he will work out some sort of "deal" to raise the debt ceiling limit by making cuts in the programs. How else can he do it? He is going to have to raise it and Republicans are going to scream bloody murder until they get their spending cuts. Nevermind we just passed an enormous deficit driver.

[JuniperLea]

3. "planning to propose"

I really hate seeing OpEds here being passed off as news. I tend to ignore anything that starts with "planning to propose" or "intends to" or anything similar, and not just because my crystal ball generally says something different.

Good morning! I'm so happy to be looking at the signs of your future! So much happiness is in store for you the most brilliantly lighted stars are put to shame by the brightness of your life! Oh, happiness, what an elusive thing you are, but thank GOD you were born beneath this star! Drop another coin in the slot and I will tell you more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B993WYNtbqk&feature=related

[jtown1123]

5. Uhh Kuttner talked to sources within the White House. How is that not news?

[JuniperLea]

7. I talked to God this morning...

And he don't like you.

I'll stick with Doraldina's Prophecies, thanks.

[Lucky 13]

11. So what is news for you? Does it have to be a video recording of someone saying those exact words?

Or can people talk to sources and report on what they say?

[JuniperLea]

16. People should correctly note when things are opinions...

We are constantly being sucked off track. How many "experts" and others on the "inside" said DADT would die, never be signed, etc.

I don't trust "sources" any more than I trust "the media" these days. To stir the shit is wrong, in any case.

[jtown1123]

18. I tend to believe D.C. elite who spend their entire day with other D.C. elite

I guess we'll wait and see. State of the Union is only 4 weeks away.

[jtown1123]

13. D.C. is a small fucking town (trust me). I am damn sure a renowned economist with ties

to WaPo, New Republic & the Senate knows White House Staff and would be fucking foolish to write something for Politico and risk his entire career as an economist and journalist. Your dismissiveness is hilarious.

[JuniperLea]

17. Wow... your anger is telling!

:rofl:

Politico? Seriously? Hahahahaha! They are a joke! :rofl: Please... my sides...

[jtown1123]

21. Maybe I am angry because this is a serious threat and I want others to be aware of it too.

We'll know in 4 weeks. That is all.

[Poboy]

24. Overuse of emoticons to dismiss may be a sign of despiration.

Just saying.

[Lucky 13]

9. Understanding what some "experts" anticipate is actually critical.

It gives us a chance to get out in front of an issue. In this case, IF he really is considering cuts to Social Security, it gives us time to organize an opposition, build coalitions, letter writing, contacting representatives, etc.

It would be a relief if the cuts weren't passed. It would be even better if we could prevent them from ever being proposed... and that can be accomplished with a wave of public opposition...

[jtown1123]

14. Thank you. Someone with sense.

[emulatorloo]

25. SELF DELETE - double posting thingy

[emulatorloo]

29. Thanks for being sane. Too many DU FlameOuts over speculative Op-Eds

and Politico stories quoting anonymous sources.

[leveymg]

12. That confirms it: Obama wants to be a one-hit wonder. He's reaching out to embrace that Third Rail.

The American people do not love fiscal austerity - but, they are mighty attached to their Social Security benefits. We'll see which triumphs.

[emulatorloo]

33. Nobody can sell cuts to Social Security for Deficit Reduction

Even Teabaggers hate that idea.

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/new-poll-dire-results-if-social-securit

Overall, of the 1,200 likely voters surveyed, 82% of respondents oppose Social Security cuts to reduce the deficit, including

83% of Dems,
78% of Independents,
82% of Republicans, and
74% of Tea Party supporters.

=============

P.S. I don't believe this is Obama's intention either.

[jtown1123]

34. I'm glad you have good faith. I hope you are right.

[emulatorloo]

38. Do you remember when Bush tried to pedal "privatization"?

It pissed off everybody (voters) regardless of party affiliation.

Even the wackjob teaparty candidates in 2010 had to back away from anything they said that suggested they were going to cut social security.

ON EDIT - still calling my Senators though. Can't hurt to remind them that they'd best not screw around with this.

[jtown1123]

39. Definitely! They always need to be reminded this is a big effin deal to the American voters.

[emulatorloo]

42. My Democratic Senator is a good solid liberal. My Republican one prides himself on Senior's issue

So I feel like both will be responsive

[leveymg]

43. Clinton was in the process of pushing partial privatization when the Lewinsky scandal exploded.

Ironic - we all avoided getting screwed only because Bill got caught in a compromised position?

[jtown1123]

44. Yes. Very few people know that. Shh! Wouldn't want to upset their delicate feelings.

[COLGATE4]

48. This is cleverer. Instead of a big push to privatize SS (a la Dim Son)

this is death by a thousand cuts.

[leftstreet]

15. HEY! This could be an awesome new SOTU Drinking Game!

The 911 Drinking Game is sooooo yesterday

[Democrats_win]

22. Maybe it's a trial balloon?

(Trial balloons are so 1990s) but maybe he wants to see how pissed off Americans will be if he touches social security. Old people eating cat food will make the NRA look like a bunch of kittens. "You can have my social security check when you pry it out of my cold dead hands"? No one "earned" their guns--but I'll be damned if you take what I EARNED over 50 years of hard work! Can you just picture the skilled laborers making guillotines?

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. 1996 State of the Union: "The Era Of Big Government Is Over"

http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/other/sotu.html

[pa28]

31. His position has been to raise the cap.

If he starts talking about cuts it will be interesting to watch the spin. I'm guessing it will be along the lines of "he never promised" he just said it was "the best way."

IMO the thing to really watch is the tax base broadening and flattening proposal from Simpson-Bowles. President Obama has already instructed Treasury to come up with reform options around "broadening the base" and the SOTU seems like as good a time as any to unveil that particular gem.

[jtown1123]

35. It was also his position to let Bush tax cuts expire for top bracket.

[pa28]

37. That's why I'm worried about where this headed.

If he comes up with a package of SS cuts and a regressive tax plan to "get ahead" of the Republicans they'll treat that as a beginning point for negotiations. Not an end point.

If he starts down that slope again we're going to get our asses handed to us again.

[jtown1123]

40. Exactly. I am hoping we can put enough pressure on the White House to stay firm on this one issue

[pa28]

46. kick because this needs to be seen.

Our own party isn't going to just touch the third rail. It's going to give it a great big hug unless . . .

[dkofos]

41. Guaranteed to loose him the election.

[leveymg]

45. If he moves in the direction of cuts, it will be a well deserved loss.

Not that I would welcome that outcome, personally, of course.

[Hannah Bell]

47. k