The White House is likely to hear an earful from Congressional Democrats on President Obama's plan to drag Social Security into the deficit cutting mix.
The Hill reviews past statements from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Social Security.
In a March interview on MSNBC, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said, "Leave Social Security alone."
Reid said at the time, "Two decades from now, I'm willing to take a look at it. But I'm not willing to take a look at it right now."
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During a May interview on CNBC, Pelosi said everything should be on the table in the debt talks, but suggested Social Security reforms should be aimed at shoring up the popular entitlement program — not reducing the deficit.
On June 22, House Democrats warned that Social Security cuts are a nonstarter.
“You want a fight?” Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) said during a press conference in the Capitol. “If anybody in this building wants to take on Social Security—privatize it, change the benefits by altering the consumer price index or by any other method—know this: You’ve got a fight on your hands."
In response to the reports that Social Security would be included, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse probably spoke for a significant number Senate Democrats in saying:
"Depending on what they decide to recommend, they may not have Democrats.... I think it is a risky thing for the White House to basically take the bet that we can be presented with something at the last minute and we will go for it."
Those Senate Democrats are now rallying behind Sen. Kent Conrad's 50/50 cuts/revenue which leaves out Social Security and has a "very small," 10-year effect on Medicaid.
For its part, the administration says that the reports on Social Security cuts "overshoot the runway," without actually denying that the program has been brought into the negotiation. It's been clear for some few weeks that cuts in the form of a Chained CPI for calculating cost of living increases are definitely in the mix.
Getting Speaker John Boehner on board with these proposals is one fight Obama is apparently relishing. But if he's serious about including Social Security, he's going to have a much harder time convincing the Democrats to go along with it.