Washington just barely avoided plummeting off the fiscal cliff.
With a rare late-night vote on New Year’s Day, the House passed a bipartisan compromise to extend the majority of Bush-era tax cuts, delay automatic spending reductions for two months and fix a number of expiring tax and spending provisions. The final vote was 257-157, passing with 172 Democrats and 85 Republicans.
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Legislation passed by Congress New Year’s Day to avert the dreaded “fiscal cliff” would stop a scheduled payment cut in Medicare physician payments. But hospitals, which have to bear a major part of financing for that “doc fix,” are not happy.
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President Obama will address the nation today about the so-called “fiscal cliff”. We’re happy to tell you that National Committee President/ CEO of the National Committee, Max Richtman, has been invited to attend today’s White House event.
That’s a good sign because we think it’s vital President Obama know that American’s of all ages and political stripes don’t support cutting Social Security & Medicare to pay down the debt.
The election is over and the main topic at the moment is the fiscal cliff. Senator Reid shared some words yesterday after a post-election news conference.
A fiscal cliff deal may have been struck but Medicare is now a target to pay down the deficit.
Click here or the graphic to read more.
With raising the Medicare eligibility age still on the table during these fiscal cliff debates, it’s important to know what the impact will be on Americans.
At this point, we won’t see President Obama in front of any cameras today but he definitely has many issues on his plate that will get attention behind closed doors today. The only thing listed on his public schedule is a meeting with labor leaders and other progressive leaders to discuss solutions to avoiding the fiscal cliff. The meeting is in the Roosevelt Room and is closed to the press. Other than that, we assume he’ll continue to be briefed on the scandals and investigations involving Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Allen. Here is a listing of meeting participants, as provided by a White House official:
- Mary Kay Henry, SEIU
- · Lee Saunders, AFSCME
- · Dennis Van Roekel, NEA
- · Rich Trumka, AFL-CIO
- · Neera Tanden, Center for American Progress
- · John Podesta, Center for American Progress
- · Bob Greenstein, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
- · Laura Burton Capps, Common Purpose Project
- · Max Richtman, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
- · Justin Ruben, MoveOn
- · Deepak Bhargava, Center for Community Change
Leave Social Security Off the Table
Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee, wrote a blog on The Hill about Social Security and leaving it off the table during the “fiscal cliff” debates:
For too long, many in Washington have been obsessed with using Social Security’s revenues as the solution for a whole host of fiscal problems that have nothing to do with the Social Security program. Whether it’s cutting benefits in the name of deficit reduction (even though Social Security by law can not contribute to the debt) or diverting payroll taxes to stimulate the economy, these approaches ignore the fact that Social Security is paid for, earned by, and promised to American workers. Thankfully, the White House and many in Congress are finally acknowledging Social Security should not be used as political leverage in Washington’s version of “Let’s Make a Deal” and simply does not belong in this deficit debate. However, as long as the chained CPI and extension of the payroll tax holiday remain under consideration, Social Security is still in the political cross-hairs. (via The Hill)
The billion dollar national campaign to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to reduce the deficit is an example of the old political saying: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” America doesn’t face an entitlement crisis. However, cutting benefits for middle-class and poor Americans remains the go-to solution for fiscal conservatives who see the congressionally created “fiscal cliff” as their golden opportunity to target these vital programs.
Max Richtman via USA Today.
Raising the Medicare eligibility age is still on the table during these fiscal cliff debates. Congress needs to know that this will devastate seniors, businesses, and states.
Click here or the graphic to read more about this cut.
On this date in 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the #ADA into law — making it easier for older Americans and others with #disabilities to get around at home, participate in their communities, and go to work. #ADA31