Obama Offers Social Security CUTS in Debt Talks
Obama Offers Social Security CUTS in Debt Talks
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is pressing congressional leaders to consider a far-reaching debt-reduction plan that would force Democrats to accept major changes to Social Security and Medicare in exchange for Republican support for fresh tax revenue.
At a meeting with top House and Senate leaders set for this morning, Obama was expected to argue that a rare consensus has emerged about the size and scope of the nation's budget problems and that policy makers should seize the moment to take dramatic action.
As part of his pitch, Obama is proposing significant reductions in Medicare spending and, for the first time, is offering to tackle the rising cost of Social Security, according to people in both parties with knowledge of the proposal.
The move marks a major shift for the White House and could present a direct challenge to Democratic lawmakers who have vowed to protect health and retirement benefits from the assault on government spending.
"Obviously, there will be some Democrats who don't believe we need to do entitlement reform. But there seems to be some hunger to do something of some significance," said a Democratic official familiar with the administration's thinking. "These moments come along at most once a decade. And it would be a real mistake if we let it pass us by."
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