Changing the current cost of living allowance formula to a stingier and less accurate Chained CPI is an immediate benefit cut for millions living on already modest incomes. The White House knows this formula is not more accurate for seniors, which is why it’s promised exemptions and bumps to try and soften the blow for some. But it still leaves millions of seniors facing benefit cuts, breaking the promise President Obama made to protect America’s middle class families.
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#budget #social security #chained cpi #president obama #entitlementsGood News For Social Security Beneficiaries…For a Change. - Entitled to Know.
Obama drops Social Security cut. - The Hill.
Obama hands progressives a win on Social Security. - Chicago Sun-Times.
Obama budget proposal to drop Social Security cuts. - Reuters.
Feeling pressure from the left, Obama backs off of Social Security cuts in budget. - Washington Times.
Obama Budget to Delete Proposal to Limit Social Security. - Bloomberg.
White House drops chained Consumer Price Index for Social Security. - Daily Kos.
Obama’s Budget Drops Big Social Security Cut. - Fire Dog Lake.
GOP’s Social Security disaster: Conservatives just lost their chance to cut benefit. - Salon.
Chained CPI Out of Obama Budget! Victory for the New Populists. - Huffington Post.
How John Boehner Spared Democrats Their Own Civil War. - National Journal.
Reports that President Obama will not include cuts to Social Security through adoption of the Chained CPI in his 2015 budget is welcome news for millions of seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who are tired of their modest benefits being used as deficit reduction bargaining chips. While it appears the White House has, for now, listened to the vast majority of Americans, of all ages and political parties, the President has still left the door open for more “let’s make a deal” bargaining with seniors’ benefits. He’s taking one step forward by keeping the Chained CPI out of his budget. We hope he won’t end up taking one step back by offering it up again later during any budget talks.
Read the rest of our statement about this news here.
During the 2008 election, President Obama said if elected, he would not cut the cost-of-living adjustment. His new budget plan includes the Chained CPI which is an immediate benefit cut to Social Security. Mr. President, Social Security isn’t a deficit bargaining chip. Keep your promise to the American people
The chained CPI would reduce Social Security benefits for the oldest and most vulnerable Americans who would be least able to afford it.
Ultimately Members of Congress urged the President—and he’s agreed – to take the cost of living formula change called the Chained CPI out of his budget. The truth is, deficits are coming down and we didn’t have to target Social Security to do it.
Graphic above via SEIU.
The President’s budget plan ignores his statements made during and after the election that Social Security should not be used to cut the deficit and also his promises for a balanced fiscal approach that wouldn’t target middle-class Americans. In truth, President Obama’s budget will cut $127.2 billion in Social Security benefits by adopting the stingier Chained CPI and further means testing in Medicare. It also raises less than half the new revenue offered in previous proposals.
In last year’s budget, President Barack Obama raised the ire of liberal groups by proposing a technical change to the way Social Security benefits are calculated. A year later, an aide wouldn’t say if the measure, known as chained-CPI, will be in Obama’s forthcoming budget for the 2015 fiscal year.
“If news reports today are correct, President Obama will soon renege on his commitment to keep Social Security out of the deficit debate, ignoring his campaign promise to millions of Americans that he would protect vital middle class programs like Social Security. By including a proposal in his 2014 budget to change the current cost of living allowance formula to a stingier and less accurate Chained CPI, the President has suggested an immediate benefit cut of $130 per year for the typical 65-year old retiree that would grow exponentially to a $1,400 cut after 30 years of retirement.
Contrary to the political spin, this chained CPI proposal isn’t a “tweak” or an “adjustment,” it’s designed to cut benefits and raises taxes, largely on the poor and middle class, totaling $208 billion over ten years. $127.2 billion of those benefits cuts come from Social Security with about $24 billion coming from VA benefits and civilian and military retirement pay cuts. Seniors will have received an average COLA of 1.3% over 4 years with no increase in two of those years. Arguing that is too generous shows how out of touch Washington is with the real-world economic realities facing average Americans. Adopting the chained CPI is nothing more than a political sleight of hand targeting our nation’s middle class and poor.
This budget is also reported to include more means testing in Medicare and less than half the new revenue requested in earlier budget negotiations. The President’s budget is not the balanced plan promised to Americans before November’s election and will leave millions of middle-class families in even worse shape than they are today.”…Max Richtman, NCPSSM President/CEO
On Friday, we received news that the Chained CPI (Social Security benefit cut) would not be in the President’s budget.
Will the Chained CPI (Social Security benefit cut) be in the President’s budget again?
