Liberal groups dig in against benefit cuts as part of “fiscal cliff” deal
MoveOn.org would not get behind any deal that reduced Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits, said Ilya Sheyman, campaign director for the liberal group. The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, is equally adamant that benefits should not be cut.
“Our principles are non-negotiable and if the cost for getting the speaker of the House on board is to do something like cut taxes yet again for the rich or cut benefits to the social safety net, we are opposed,” said AFL-CIO spokesman Jeff Hauser, who added that it was better to go over the “fiscal slope” than to bend to Republican demands.
Representatives for the AARP, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, said that although they were open to having a conversation about ways to slow the growth of health care costs in a different context, they were appalled at the prospect that changes to vital entitlement programs could be ironed out in an end-of-the-year deal on budget and taxes.
Blowback
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OBSTRUCTIONISM
Good Lt on November 26, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Then we should dig in against any and all tax hikes.
Over teh cliff we go.
darwin on November 26, 2012 at 1:53 PM
When we spnd our entire tax revenue on social programs the problem isn’t taxes.
darwin on November 26, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Sure would love to see the solution these unserious people have in mind to eliiminate the deficit.
WashJeff on November 26, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Liberals don’t want free stuff, entitlements reduced. Surprise. How is this news?
Slainte on November 26, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Gotta keep that gubmint trough properly slopped for the moochers.
tom daschle concerned on November 26, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Give them everything their little heart’s desire.
Let. It. Burn.
JPeterman on November 26, 2012 at 1:56 PM
but the lsm focus is on the ‘gop needs to raise taxes’…
puhleeze….
cmsinaz on November 26, 2012 at 1:57 PM
I would say to
1. Eliminate defined benefit pensions for ALL federal employees
2. Adopt George Bush’s 2005 Social Security reform proposals.
3. Strengthen work requirements.
4. Repeal Obamacare
5. Adopt Romney/Ryan Medicare reform proposals.
crosspatch on November 26, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Fixored?
apostic on November 26, 2012 at 2:02 PM
And quite a “safety net” it is comrade … it covers everything including cell phones. Why no one really has to work at all.
At least the Soviet Union required able bodied people to work.
darwin on November 26, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Biggest racist in the land
Schadenfreude on November 26, 2012 at 2:04 PM
“benefits” bugs the hell out of me.
bob77 on November 26, 2012 at 2:05 PM
We’re going to need a pretty big safety net after the next recession.
DeathtotheSwiss on November 26, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Just as I suspected, the whole “balanced” meme was BS all along.
tommyboy on November 26, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Keep Obama in prezadint, you know? He gave us a phone! He gone give us more. That’s why we voted for him. Keep giving us Obama money. From his stash.
The Rogue Tomato on November 26, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Let’s head over the cliff.
rbj on November 26, 2012 at 2:11 PM
‘Toon of the Day: Doomsday
Resist We Much on November 26, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Double all tax rates. Take away the EITC. Tax food stamps, welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, everything.
If Americans want a European-style welfare state, then make them pay for it. Eliminating the Bush tax rates on the top 2% will only raise $80 billion per year, assuming no changes in behaviour. That leaves more than $1 trillion in Obama deficits annually.
You want Obamanomics and welfare state? Pay for it. Double ALL taxes on EVERYONE and EVERYONE must have skin in the game!
Resist We Much on November 26, 2012 at 2:16 PM
too bad NJ didn’t any specifics on raises taxes from these guy (beside the slogan ‘tax the rich’)
here’s what the left is talking about…raising or eliminating the cap on SS/Medicare (that’s a lot of money)…seizing assets in 401Ks and turning them into an annuity…for you lifetime…creative stuff like that.
r keller on November 26, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Why is it perfectly acceptable for them to say “our principles are non-negotiable,” but evidence of extremism when we say that we won’t negotiate away our principles?
Resist We Much on November 26, 2012 at 2:18 PM
The GOP should make a single demand regarding Social Security…allow people to opt out.
The following conditions woud apply:
1. Those that opt out forfeit all claims to previous contributions.
2. Companies must still pay their half of FICA to continue some funding.
Charlemagne on November 26, 2012 at 2:19 PM
The Left insists on keeping the social safety net in place but refuses to let those of us who don’t want to participate opt out. It’s pure coercion.
Charlemagne on November 26, 2012 at 2:21 PM
So do the words “welfare rights advocates” and “community organizers.” Not that they appear in this particular article.
UltimateBob on November 26, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Because it’s impossible for them to fund their socialist utopia without taking our money from us.
UltimateBob on November 26, 2012 at 2:34 PM
F it. Lets let the OBAMABOT’s crash the system and we’ll fight it out on the street. We far out number them.
cw10036 on November 26, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise…..NOT!
Liberals believe the word “compromise” means “do it MY way” and not what other people see in the dictionary.
Starve the beast by find ways to “opt out” by maximizing deductions and minimizing taxes if you can’t “go Galt” all together.
I know I’ve set plans in motion for that. I’ve increased my pre-tax retirement contributions. And I’ll be doing all sorts of tax-deductible activities next year.
I might even apply for some “benefit” or other if I qualify, just to take from the other end of it. Not sure, but there has to be something I can do for tax credits or whatever.
Starve the beast. Bring it down.
ProfShadow on November 26, 2012 at 2:51 PM
The problem is the poorly named “safety net” never stops growing. They won’t even make an attempt to slow it’s growth. Obviously this is because this is all the democrats have to offer … if it wasn’t for entitlements and other “safety net” goodies people would have absolutely no reason to vote democrat.
darwin on November 26, 2012 at 3:11 PM
Well then lets just prove what a ‘ship that goes underwater’ looks like.
ALL AHEAD FLANK. Do not brace for impact, hit Pookie’s sofa and choom.
CorporatePiggy on November 26, 2012 at 3:40 PM
They presented a solution, it was called The People’s Budget and was voted down.
visions on November 26, 2012 at 3:52 PM
As expected…liberal fiscal ideology dictates there can be no consideration of reality when discussing solutions to our problems, unless that consideration is 100% about the evil successful rich people in this country.
Mind blowing stupidity.
Let them have their collapse. And when it occurs, be it 5 years or 20 years from now, they’ll still blame Bush.
I think we conservatives need to look at the Long Game here. Economic collapse is inevitable…when we rebuild, its time to consider two Americas…lets make the American experiment that much bolder.
Ca97 on November 26, 2012 at 4:05 PM