E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSRepublicans pushed an election-year, $3.5 trillion budget through the House on Thursday that relies on biting spending cuts and a revamping of Medicare to curb massive federal deficits, drawing a sharp contrast with how President Barack Obama and Democrats would tackle the nation's fiscal problems.
Alex Wong / Getty Images
House Speaker John Boehner arrives for a news briefing on the GOP's budget proposal March 29 on Capitol Hill.
House passage came on a near party-line, 228-191 vote. With its doom guaranteed in the Democratic-run Senate, the House measure was essentially a political stage on which Republicans showed voters how they would run Washington if they win control in the November elections — and Democrats fired back by doing the same.
See related: Who killed the debt talks?
The GOP plan features sharper deficit reduction and starkly less government than Democrats want. It would block Obama's proposal to boost taxes on the wealthy and would instead lower income tax rates while erasing many unspecified tax breaks. Obama's budget would raise taxes on families making above $250,000 and on oil and gas companies, add funds for roads and schools and cull modest savings from domestic programs.
"We think America is on the wrong track," said House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the spending plan's chief author and a rising party star who is sometimes mentioned as a vice presidential prospect. "We think the president is bringing us to a debt crisis and a welfare state in decline."
Democrats accused the GOP of writing a plan that would end the age-old guarantee that Medicare would cover most of seniors' medical bills and would slash transportation, research and other programs far too deeply, even as the measure would protect the rich from Obama's proposed tax hikes.
"The more people know about that budget, the more people know it hurts them in their lives," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Congress' budget is a nonbinding road map that suggests tax and spending changes lawmakers should make in separate, later legislation. A House-Senate stalemate over the fiscal blueprint would have scant practical impact as Congress tackles what little budget work it is expected to address before the November elections.
Final approval in the House came after lawmakers swatted down a slew of alternatives over the past two days, including a package by the most conservative Republicans that featured even sharper spending cuts and deeper deficit reduction than Ryan's leadership-backed plan.
The conservative plan claimed to turn this year's $1.2 trillion federal deficit into a balanced budget in five years. Most analysts consider that unachievable because few lawmakers would vote for the package's proposed cuts.
None of the competing budgets by Ryan, Obama or House Democrats claim to balance the budget within the next decade.
Underlining the growing influence of tea party and other conservative Republicans, a clear majority of GOP lawmakers voted for the conservatives' plan. It was defeated because virtually every Democrat voted against it.
Republicans forced a vote on Obama's budget and it was rejected 414-0, with Democrats worried that a "yes" vote would provide fodder for campaign ads accusing them of backing anything voters might dislike in the president's plan.
Also rejected was a compromise mix of tax increases and spending cuts offered by moderates of both parties and modeled on recommendations issued by Obama's bipartisan deficit reduction commission. It got only 38 votes.
The GOP package would slice everything from food stamps to transportation. It envisions collapsing the current six income tax rates into just two, with a top rate of 25 percent compared with today's 35 percent. It would also eliminate unspecified tax breaks.
"Our team actually went and made the tough choices, made the tough choices to preserve freedom in America and to deal with our fiscal nightmare," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Democrats said they, too, were eager to stanch deficits that now exceed $1 trillion annually. But they said it needed to be done in a more balanced way, with rich and poor alike sharing the load.
"The Republican budget kicks the middle class in the stomach," said Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y.
The House GOP budget would cut spending by $5.3 trillion more over the next decade than Obama's would — out of more than $40 trillion that would still be spent during that period. It envisions repeal of the president's health care overhaul and sets a course for deep reductions for highway and rail projects, research and aid to college students and farmers while easing planned defense cuts.
It also would cut taxes by $2 trillion more than the president's plan over that time, leaving Republicans seeking about $3.3 trillion in deeper deficit reduction than Obama.
Drawing the most political heat was Ryan's plan for Medicare, the $500 billion-a-year health insurance program for older Americans that all sides agree is growing so fast its future financing is shaky. Both parties know that seniors vote in high numbers and care passionately about the program.
Republicans would leave the plan alone for retirees and those near retirement, letting the government continue paying much of their doctors' and hospital bills.
For younger people, Medicare would be reshaped into a voucher-like system in which the government would subsidize people's health care costs. Republicans say that would drive down federal costs by giving seniors a menu of options that compete with each other. Democrats say government payments won't keep up with the rapid inflation of medical costs, leaving many beneficiaries struggling to afford the care they need.
Republicans would turn Medicaid, the nearly $300 billion-a-year federal-state health insurance program for the poor, into a grant that states could use as they wish. They also would trim its growth by $800 billion over the next decade, out of spending during that time that is expected to exceed $4 trillion.
Leave a Comment:
Just have to read the list here to understand what is wrong with our country. No one, and I mean, no one, is wiling to consider any compromise, people ignore facts and just spit out the party line. Down with all!! If everyone doesn't change, we are doomed!
Was there compromise when they shoved the health care bill up our collective aholes?
First off the good old boy budget is insane.
That being said- Why is noone covering the progressive budget they just put out. It puts Trillions into infrastructure, lowers the deficit by 6.7 trillion which is way more than the good old boy budget and cuts defense not social programs.
There needs to be a side by side comparison so America can see the differences.
rtaylor1313
This from the article we are supposed to be discussing now:
Never challenge liberals with the facts. It's futile.
I said Progresive budget not Obama. You need to learn to read.
They've just thrown all of us under a bus. Only the billionaires are guaranteed "welfare" in this plan. But old ladies can eat cat food or just go outside and die for want of medical care.
Vote Democrat 2012.
and the 55% of us who pay NOTHING!
Kellysview, everyone pays something. You know that, I know that, but you want to continue that BS spin? Everytime you put gas in your vehicle, you pay a federal and state gas tax. I mean, you can't be that low informed you didn't know this, right? Every time you use your phone, computer, etc, you pay a federal tax. Need more examples there slick? Or do you want to stay low informed, and full of manure.
Get real, you're talking a couple of bucks compared to thousands. Gas tax is supposed to go to roads, not the general fund and we are talking about the federal budget not the state.
SallyAnn-4595694
If you all keep up with the "throw grandma under the bus", BS we will keep up with the 55%? who pay nothing thing.
I cannot understand how people on the left do not get it. WE are in major Debt!! As a country we cannot continue to afford to spend money the way that it has been spent in the last several years. Try to blame Bush for it all if you like but Obama has practically outspent him in a shorter time, grown the size of the government, added debt through regulation, pushed through a health care program that allowed the government to take over student loans putting people out of work in the student loan industry. Back to the budget, even if you raise taxes on millionaires, it still doesn't close the gab without DRAMATIC spending cuts. What part of this is so difficult to understand. We are 16 trillion in debt and the left just keeps wanting to pile it on. At some point there needs to be serious discussion about reducing the debt which means tax increases for everyone including the middle class. Also, democrats have not brought forth any serious spending reductions. Do they not get it? Republicans will not add revenues to the equation until the left comes up with serious cuts. If you go dollar for dollar we are just spinning our wheels and making no progress. I commend the house for coming up with something that is addressing our deficit. So someone on the left tell me what to do short of us raising everyones taxes to 50% or more to pay for unfunded or underfunded mandates or programs give me a viable solution and don't just say increases on the wealthy it doesn't get us there. This is a SERIOUS problem and if we don't find a way to reduce the deficit soon this country will be broke and unable to meet our obligations and then even more people will suffer.
First, raise taxes on the rich. Also raise taxes on everyone else, but to a manageable degree. Close tax loopholes for everyone, and tax capital gains at 25%. Then bring all troops home. Cut the military to about 25% of what we currently have. Reform Medicare and social security and raise retirement to a minimum of 45 years in the work force (with more and more people getting an education, and longer life spans, people could expect to retire around 70). Don't cut education, but make it more effective and productive. Adopt a healthcare plan like many European countries, or Japan. Slim down government, and only have the agencies that are needed to run the country effectively. Higher education should be reformed as well. Have company sponsors that agree to pay for your education in return for a portion of your working career. That takes away student debt, allowes anyone with the student abilities needed to go to college, and raises employment. Charge companies that move production over seas a hefty tax for doing so to insure as many jobs stay stateside. And also reform drug laws to legalize things like marijuana.
This isn't really to specific, but it's something.
Obama cut the middle man out of student loans. Which is great, as it saves the student money, and ends the massive corruption of the loan industry. If people lost their jobs over that, WONDERFUL, they deserved losing their jobs.
About spending cuts, every person who works for a paycheck has money taken out for SS and Medicare. Both of those programs are like insurance policies, and the retired, and soon to be retired deserve them, as they payed into them. Even the tea baggers had signs about keeping hands off their Medicare, and SS.
I agree with your thought about rasing taxes, it won't pay down the deficit, but it will help it from getting worse. Cutting the DOD budget by 50% would darn sure help. Bring all the troops home, put them on the border.
We do need a strong defensive military, and no one will say we don't. But we damn sure don't have to be the world cops. If these corporations need protection while doing business overseas, they can hire their own people, on their dime, not the taxpayers dime.
Do that, the deficit will shrink in a hurry. But why the worry about the deficit, VP Cheney said deficits didn't matter. So why the fuss now?
When SS began people died in their 60's and there were 17 workers/retiree. Now people are living into their 80's and there are 3 workers/retiree, soon to be two. Do the math.
The real problem is Medicare, it is going exponential and Obama made it even worse.
Taxing the rich gets you $70 billion. Our deficits are over $1.3 trillion. That's 5%. Meanwhile it is their money that creates jobs by investing in companies. Instead of solving 5% of the problem, you will likely make it 10% worse by losing jobs.
We have to be the worlds cops as long as we are forbidden to be energy independent. Blame Obama for that. Our strategic reserves only hold 28 days supply of oil. After that we can only guarantee what we pump. As a conservative I've long said drill baby drill so we can get the hell out of the middle east altogether.
Electric cars are wonderful, I plan on buying one in a few years, but they will not be viable for 5-10 years and after that it will take decades to transition over. Until then we must either drill or buy. As long as we have to depend on foreign sources, (at least 25 years, more likely 50), we have to protect those sources.
That's why I suggest people retire more along the age of 70.
Taxing the rich isn't going to be the only cure, but even if it was only $70billion, thats 70 billion more than we currently have. And the uber rich will potentially invest more heavily to acquire more profit to make up for the money taken in taxes.
And we do have to protect foreign intrests. But we don't have to hold half the countries in the worlds hand. We protect only what we have a vested interest in and let the locals do their own thing.
And we need to start looking into other energy sources. Not just cars, but ways of powering our entire society. It would produce jobs and jump start our decline on foreign dependence.
Is this the Budget that does not have the word Veteran in it ? After sacrificing our troops in Bush's vendetta in Iraq they are now cast aside...typical for the GOP
Just another disgusting GOP/Tea Party bill that focuses on giving more tax breaks for the wealthy and taking away benefits and rights from the rest of us. The GOP/Tea Party Congressional members are owned and paid for by wealthy libertarians. Several of them, i.e. Boehner, Cantor and even Ryan belong to this group. We are not stupid; we see what their agenda is. I predict that many of these conservatives without consciences will be defeated in the 2012 elections. This country is for ALL of us not just the extreme conservative self-interest wealthy individuals. It is coming to the point that people are no longer listening to the mainstream media that supports this group and says and prints lies to protect their benefactors.
they're the only chamber at least trying to get a grip on our record deficits and debt.... and the left rules it dead instead of using it as a starting point to compromise. The democrats have no desire to to fix our deficit problem. They continue to live in la-la land.
Kellysview- one question- in the UK when Cameron was elected having a different political system they were able to pass a significant reduction in their budget. Do you know what effect it has had on their economy? Under your theory the UK economy should have grown relieved of this heavy deficit. But the reality- they slid back into a recession.
How's the Greek economy doing under the reduction of govt spending.
The reality, which your side never discuss' is when you reduce the deficit you shrink the economy. You shrink govt expenditure when the other parts of the economy are growing- not shrinking.
How come when people here complain the left says it took 8 years to create this mess and you expect the President to clean it up in only 3, yet you do not want to give that program a chance
according to your economic theology the only thing preventing business from busting out is overburdening govt- why isn't it working in other capitalist countries? Its your theory not mine- and ps its been a 1 and a half year wait for the UK and so far NOTHING.
PS it was also the theology of Greenspan and Ayn Ryan that the intelligent business leaders would never knowingly allow greed to destroy their businesses- isn't that the rationale for not needing regulation?
Agreed! Don't forget their lemming drone foot soldiers. The ones who attack without question, fact or thought. The radicals who follow and spew ugliness here on newsvine. Republicans have become a radicalized. They have a whole army not represented by their own party. They are not the elite or wealthly. But the do share the racism, hate, fear mongering and intolerance. The only thing they have in common.
China is a capitalist country that gave up socialism and it's working fine there. Modern so called capitalist countries like the US and EU have been heavily socialized.
Britain is in far better shape than France, Italy, Greece, etc. Canada also cut spending and they are doing much better. Greece didn't get into trouble by cutting spending, it got into trouble by exploding spending. The ONLY fix is to cut spending. So do you solve overspending by spending more? That is pathetically stupid.
It did not take eight years to get into this mess, it took two. Democrats inherited 4.6% unemployment and s booming economy when they took over congress Jan 2007. This entire disaster happened on their watch.
the liberal democrat's socialist motto..
"ask not what you can do for our country,
ask what your country can do for you"..
ABO2012
END OF AN ERROR
Republican actions:
Racism, ignorance, fear baiting, hate mongering, intolerance of gay people and women's rights. Protection of the elite and steping on the very ones who defend you. Causing division. Calling themselves American and then attacking America. They even hate Girl Scouts.
Pathetic liberal lies, as usual.
The HOR originates ALL spending bills. A special shout out to the MORON who said that the 150,000 troops we sent into Iraq weren't enough to defeat the 6 guys who stayed loyal to SADDAMM! To all you STUPID,BRAINWASHED FOXIES I say please read "The Fox Effect." It pretty much explains the lies you dimwits spout as facts. You would be embarrassed as to the total lack of information you're receiving!
I would hope your sharp enough to realize it's a two way street. I think I've caught msnbc spinning a thing or two as well. At least I'm smart enough to realize it!
Yet another propaganda post sponsored by Radical leftist George Soros.
I think you should read "Demonic". I think it would probably open your eyes substantially.
With the wars finally ending why are they continuing to increase military spending? Do we still need to "protect" Europe?
Aloha
They are not increasing spending, they just aren't cutting it as much as the automatic cuts proscribe. Defense has already been cut and will be cut some more.
Again, as long as Obama has a war against oil we have to protect our foreign sources. If you want to cut the military even more, open up federal lands and stop Obama dragging his feet on permits.
Test
What did you call me?
Just had to. It works dpepp.
This president has a hidden agenda that does not involve the welfare of his people, black or white. When he thinks he's off mike he cuddles up to our enemies. He has lied to the Senate and the American people. On these grounds he should be impeached!!!
Wow! Your delusions must keep you occupied 24/7!!
Cuddling to our enemies off-mike? I didn't know that Russia was our "enemy" since there is no war and no intentions of war. Differences like with any other country, and calling Russia our "enemy" shows the level of your paranoia.
Drink another beer!!
Mike - Russia isn't our enemy. Why try and create something that isn't there.. We've had tons of imigration from Russians, and I don't think they think they are our enemies..
This president has divided our country along racial lines! There has never been more hatred among whites and blacks as there is right now!! He is a hater and a liar!! How in the world did he ever get elected???
that's his legacy......
No doubt about It kellysview, that's what he will be remembered for!!
Kelly and Mike: two ignorants comforting each other.
But if Fox says so, it must be true!
Are you serious mike? I kinda think that the racial hatred was a bit higher before and during the civil rights movement. Slavery was a pretty bad time too. The only reason you reference that now is due to the treyvon Martin thing.
he got elected because liberals are stupid and naive.......obama is a race pimp just like al sharpton, jesse jackson, spike lee, etc........obama wants everyone to be angry with each other......he hopes that people will then ignore the crap he has done as president.....ANYONE BUT obama IN NOVEMBER!
hey rasputtin, this is what I'm talking about!! Your a hater!!!
the only hate i see is from your posts. The town of Sanford had a cops teenage kid accused of beating the shzzt out of a homeless black kid. Result- no charges. Zimmerman- no charges. Who has the hate?
Mike: Calling Obama a race hater is like calling Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball one. That's how off base your comments are.
Yea, and Rev Wright wears MLK's mantle. Get serious. Anyone who could go to that church for 20 years and claim they didn't know is either too stupid to be president or too big a liar.
Please disregard the previous junk.
If the people who do the real work in this country got paid enough to pay taxes, we could raise revenue through the roof! I'd be happy to be earning enough to pay 25% taxes. Hell, I'd be even happier to pay 35% in taxes if universal healthcare were thrown in!
What a weight off the back! If there were no need to work yourself to death trying to become rich! How much wealth is necessary to protect yourself, and perhaps your family, from bankruptcy due to bad health or bad luck?
And businesses could be rid of the responsibility of insurance as well!
"But Obama and everyone else must wait at least several more weeks to learn the fate of the health care overhaul he signed into law in 2010.
Can this POS author be more of a whining liberal? Listen D bag, that's the process. The Supreme Court will make their decision whether you agree with it or not. Sit down and shut up.
Seeing as they don't do much else, it shouldn't take them that long.
Do you honestly think this is the only case they have? Get a grip.
It's not the only case they have, but they don't do enough to warrant their salaries. They should know the laws and be able to apply them a little quicker
cut spending, cut taxes, get rid of obama and his gang of petty tyrants....get america on the right heading....ANYONE BUT obama IN NOVEMBER!
Mcpaddywack- make you a $10k Willard style bet- ain't gona happen. your guy wouldn't know how to campaign if his life depended on it. From his dog tied to the top of the car to his truthful comments about the 45 yr old w/o healthcare being screwed this guy doesn't "care"- only about himself and his own
Paxil,
Is that opposed to the President talking about his mother not being able to get coverage for her cancer which was proven to be a lie, or that if it was not for the march in Selma he might never have been born except it happened when he was four.
the storey I heard is his mother was denied benefits for her cancer and the fact remains with the disease she had no other alternative for treatment. I think the details got in the way. The other Selma BS I have no idea what you are referring to- was it a glenn beck show?
Jerryl- not that it matters to your side but media matters called your bs statements above BS
Please let them take it up with the Washington Post who wrote this article in 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the-road-weve-traveled-a-misleading-account-of-obamas-mother-and-her-insurance-dispute/2012/03/18/gIQAdDd4KS_blog.html
Here is the other one from Snopes which I might have been partially wrong on but the President did embellish
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/saywhat.asp
Media Matters is not an unbiased source
Jerryl- read your article good point on exaggeration on the film.
and go back to a Bush "House of Cards"! No way and no thanks. Senate "No" Vote or a Presidential Veto!
I need a paxil
Would that be the same media matters that is supported by George Soros and the Democracy Alliance?
There is such a simple solution to the Social Security / Medicare dilemma that no one seems to want to talk about.
For the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) tax or Social Security tax, the Social Security Wage Base (SSWB) is the maximum earned gross income or upper threshold on which a wage earner's Social Security tax may be imposed. When the payroll deductions were originally set up the earnings cap was in line with the earnings of the day. The earnings cap has increased through the years but not enough to keep up with earnings increases. The current cap is 106,800. ... which means anyone earning from 106801 to a billion and above year pays the same amount into the system.
I know those making more don't want to even discuss this but If the OASDI tax cap were raised to say 300,000. then the system would be solvent. They scream about shared sacrifice ... OK ... let's see it! All of us who are educators, firefighters, policemen, grocery clerks, nurses, etc. work hard and live on very little. We have seen our coffee go from 4.00 a # to 9.00, our utilities, skyrocket, healthcare escalate to unaffordable rates without seeing our salaries increase. In fact we are lucky if we still have a job and house at all. We are not freeloaders, we are educated, we care about this country and we are being squeezed from every end. We are the fabric of daily life, we are what holds society together and yet we are being treated like we have no rights, no voice and no value while the top 5% are living large and feel they have the right to even take away any possibility of a normal, secure old age. Where has social responsibility gone?
It is not fair that those who have the most receive a break while those struggling pay on every penny they earn. The wealthy, whether they want to acknowledge it or not, get there on the backs of everyone "under" them, off speculation in the stock market that produces revenue for the wealthy investor while driving up the price for the hard working American trying to raise a family on a 35 or 45 thousand dollar annual salary, while the low paid workers produce the goods which are sold at huge profits to benefit.
Let's see the shared sacrifice! We the lowly 85 to 90% of the people, we the peons, the minions ARE ALREADY SACRIFICING!!!! There is nothing left for us to sacrifice! When will those at the top get with the program and start sacrificing a little too? If i can happily live in 600 sq. feet on 16,000.00 a year then I think perhaps those at the greedy top could give up on 50,000 dollar lunch for their buddies, or maybe one of the 9 houses to help America out of this mess.
If you are interested in reading more about the OASDI paroll tax issue I have attached an article below:
une 1, 2011
Close The Social Security "Cap" Tax Loophole!
-- by Dave Johnson
Most people don’t know that there is a huge loophole in the Social Security tax. Believe it or not, after $107K income you don’t pay the Social Security tax at all. This loophole is called the “cap.” The "cap" loophole is bigger than the looholes that let big corporations get out of paying their taxes because while not all corporations avoid taxes the "cap" applies to everyone making over $107K. Closing this loophole would fix all of Social Security's so-called "problems."
The "Cap"
Working people pay into their Social Security account from every dollar they earn but high-income earners only pay on a fraction of what they earn. Most people don't make enough to take advantage of this loophole, so they don't even know about this loophole. But once you reach $106,800 of income you stop paying anything into Social Security.
The Social Security "Problem"
Social Security has built up a huge trust fund of money that people have set aside for their retirement. This trust fund covers everyone's Social Security benefits well into the future. But under some economic assumptions and with continuing concentration of wealth this trust fund begins to run out, and could be gone by approximately 2037. After 2037 the amount coming in from money people set aside could fall short of the amounts going out, and predictions are that without some changes the amounts paid out could be as much as 25% short. Of course, because of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), benefit checks will be larger than now, even with this potential 25% cut. But this will be a blow to retired people, and should be avoided.
Proposed Solutions
There are several proposals to solve the problem of this potential cut in benefits in the year 2037. Many of these solutions involve schemes to cut benefits now, instead of in 2037, to avoid having to cut in 2037. But for some reason many people are skeptical and do not see the logic of making big cuts in Social Security now in order to avoid possible small cuts later.
Other solutions involve raising the retirement age beyond the current retirement age of 67. People who do not sit at desks in their jobs and have to stand, lift, bend or use their hands worry that they will be unable to work until they die, and would rather see a solution to fixing the problem of a potential shortfall way off in the future than making them continue to work. Also, longevity studies show that people in higher incomes -- the very people receiving the "cap" loophole -- are living longer but not people who make less.
Still other solutions involve "means testing" -- excluding some people from receiving benefits everyone has paid for. This is undemocratic -- we are all in this together and have an equal stake and are entitled to equal benefits. That is what the word "entitlement" means: in a democracy we are all equally entitled to certain things.
These proposals all involve cutting or delaying benefits for recipients. But there is another solution that does not involve benefits: raising the cap on the level of earnings that pay into Social Security.
Raise The Cap
The one solution that is seemingly off the table in plutocratic circles is called "raising the cap." This means fixing the loophole that lets people making over $106,800 stop paying into the Social Security fund. This would, of course, solve the problem of any potential shortfall in Social Security and could even enable restoring a lower retirement age, which would help alleviate the chronic unemployment problem as well.
This post originally appeared at Campaign for America's Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture. I am a Fellow with CAF.
I am a 53 year old who makes over the cap and I do think it should be raised to a higher amount. At the same when Social Security started the average life span was 60 so people were not even expected to receive their money. Now that we live longer I think for those under 55 we should raise the age that you can begin to receive coverage should be raised to 70.
Jerry, that might work for people who work in a office. But if you work manuel labor jobs, like Construction, that work takes a toll on a person's body. They can't do that work until age 70. There shouldn't be any cap on SS, and make Congress to quit stealing from the funds.
Sorry, that's BS. There are plenty of 70 year olds doing construction. I personally know of plenty of 60-70 year olds in all the trades, including the manual labor trades. In addition I am 64 and doing my own work. People are in far better shape nowadays than they were even a decade ago. My 73 year old friend does 90 push-ups every morning to get warmed up for the day. I have another 70+ year old that is in heavy construction and puts in major hours. I work out 1.5 hours a day and can work in my forest clearing brush etc. for hours straight without a break or even getting winded.
That's why SS and Medicare are in such trouble, we are living longer lives and realize that keeping active is the secret to living even longer. Of course that means more knee, hip, etc. replacements to keep us going! <)
Here's he last (and moist poignant) paragraph of the article above about the payroll tax income cap ... THE FIX for Social Security, Disability & Medicare SOLVENCY!!!!
Raise The Cap
The one solution that is seemingly off the table in plutocratic circles is called "raising the cap." This means fixing the loophole that lets people making over $106,800 stop paying into the Social Security fund. This would, of course, solve the problem of any potential shortfall in Social Security and could even enable restoring a lower retirement age, which would help alleviate the chronic unemployment problem as well.
This post originally appeared at Campaign for America's Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture. I am a Fellow with CAF.
How simple can this be? The same elected officials who say (more importantly, vote) that gov't shouldn't be providing healthcare should voluntarily give up their GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED healthcare. No one seems to be outraged at their blatant hypocrisy, mostly. These are men and women that we voted to put in their positions and they're telling us that we don't deserve the same care that they receive - that somehow they earned what they get, yet we don't, even though without us, they wouldn't be there. If they truly believe that private providers can do a better job on healthcare than the gov't, then they should have no problem making their healthcare covered by private providers, at their own expense.
What's worse is that there is an entire ARMY of ill-informed people out there willing to promote that very vision while their own insurance premiums skyrocket. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! Guess how much elected politicians pay in premiums per year? I'll give you a hint: It's a number between 0 and 0. How, how, HOW in the bloody hell does that seem right to anyone?
By the way, the same politicians that say you should provide for your own retirement and end-of-life care also pay 0 on the very same things. Fascinating logic, to say the least.
Is it too much to ask that our elected officials be required to sacrifice the same things they wish us to sacrifice?
NO gov't-funded healthcare coverage for elected officials.
NO gov't-funded pensions for elected officials.
NO cost-of-living increases for gov't officials without an equal increase in minimum wages across the board.
As an elected official, your income will be the median income of the WHOLE of your constituents. Healthcare and retirement will be your own responsibility.
Find me a candidate who is willing to take those values as their own and actually implement them and I will present you with the most popular candidate in American history.
Of course, the entire political structure in its current iteration will unravel and we might actually get real, honest statesmen representing us. You know, pretty much like the founding fathers of this once-great nation intended.
It's not an absurd idea. It's not impractical or impossible. And in the name of ethics, morality and the common good, is it really that much to ask from the people that we gave the PRIVILEGE of running our country?
It's a hell of start to feasibly balancing the budget of this nation. Shared sacrifice focuses clouded minds.
The republican plan gives you access to the same health care they have. In contrast, Obamacare sticks you with socialized medicine while they keep their private insurance.
The republicans have a plan that allows me to have healthcare coverage provided to me at no cost for the rest of my life? Show me, Valhalla Phil. Or is this your usual newsvine tactic of hitting every thread on an article spreading dubious information that can rarely be verified?
Who tells or pays you to spread this @!$%#? What other motivation could you possibly have?
OK, I got the GOP position. What this country needs is to give more money to the rich, incentives to Big Oil to drill, and if you are over 65, die as soon as possible because health care will not be there for you..
Elect Paul Ryan as head of the Death Panel...
OK, I got the DNC position. Let it all go bankrupt since they will be retired at taxpayer expense when it happens. Again, the five richest counties in the country are the ones surrounding DC. Government is your 1% fat cats.
Soros is a liberal democrat, Gates is a liberal democrat, Buffet is a liberal democrat., Kerry is a liberal democrat. If you think the GOP would do anything to help them give even more to Obama, you are truly deluded.
two white students murdered by a black teenager......what does obama say about that?...nothing.....obama is a race baiting charlatan......ANYONE BUT obama IN NOVEMBER!
Mcpaddywack- you are so right. The history of America is just full of attacks by the people of color on us poor whites.
Not sure what you are referring to but I'd bet money, if it's true the black teenager is in jail... And it seems you are the one race baiting...
Are the two words Veteran Benefits mentioned in this Budget ....Hello .... and anybody hear me ?
From January 2009 to January 2010, when the GOP regained control of the House, hundreds of laws were passed by the House and never even voted on in the Senate. They were not blocked by Majority Leader Reid, but by Minority Leader McConnell. Forty-one senators prevented 59 from even debating these bills, but we never heard a single complaint from the right about the Senate not considering them. Now that the House is in their hands and can pass the most arbitrarily partisan legislation in history, they are outraged at Harry Reid. Get over it! Senator Reid is not going to waste the Senate's time in considering bills designed to defeat the President. He is the leader of the Majority, so he knows he has the votes to stop them cold. Now, I do hope he's learned something from Senator McConnell over the past few years, just in case the voters are not as smart as I think they are. A couple of years of being in Reid's shoes might just convince McConnell and his minions that they are supposed to work together to solve the country's problems, not work to make our national failure their political advantage.
Cal,
Do you have any idea of what you are talking about. The GOP regained control of the House in Jan. 2011 and have not had control of the Senate since 2007
I would be more impressed with this proposal if it included cutting congressional pay to $1 per year (most of these people are wealthy and don't need the pay anyway with all the perks they get) and pass term limits. Other than that it is all posturing and more hot air.
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/46838452#46838452
I have a great idea that perhaps the Republicans drafting this bill to eliminate Medicare & Social Security and give even bigger tax break to the super wealthy should add to their bill.
Add another tax break for any wealthy individual who will supply the funds to receive a "humane, civilized" death by injection & cover cremation costs for a (previously middle class, hard working) struggling retired or disabled individuals who can no longer afford food, shelter & health care due these proposed changes. I suppose it could be done by lottery since there will be millions of us on the streets, living in boxes, hoping to die!
And on top of it all most of them have the audacity to call themselves Christians!
face it they dont even have to kill medicare just let it die on its own and not continue to support it, havin seniors milkin us dry with knee replacements , hert by passes and costin us all thousands and thousands a month livin in nursin homes cant be afforded with out a national non profit insurance program you seniors have basically milked us dry the gop is right kill medicare obama care and then maybe they can save ssi but i doubt it they hated ssi from day one why there fight is in socialism-because the word social as in social security must be ended its a communist program brought up by the dems and fdr
What would really help MY budget would be for my Windy's baconnator to go back to 2008 prices. I can see my dollar shrinking even as it lies on my bureau.
You are a TROLL, what you are not is somebody with spelling skills.
You lunatics are getting really boring with your socialist, communist paranoia. Bush was not one of them, but brought the country to the edge of the abyss, but instead of doing something, your friends at the GOP/PT are trying to make things worse in order to defeat Obama. Good luck, you'll need it.
Good luck obama lovesrs. Spending a few extra trillion per year and pushing the us into default is the standard operating procedure for you bunch of losers.
hey i give the gop credit they put out for what they stand for to vote on and they some what balance the budget and support there base us low lives do we have any support from anyone? us who make less then 100000 I say no and congrats to the gop they support their base