More on the Human Chain against Social Security cuts
From Rollcall: Progressive Form 'Human Chain' Against Chained CPI:
As some lawmakers begin to quietly discuss possible gives and takes for a grand bargain on the current budget impasse, progressive House members and their allies gathered Thursday morning, hoping to send a clear message: Theres no room at the negotiating table to consider cuts to Social Security.
The rally was intended as a pre-rejection in the words of Social Security Works Executive Director Alex Lawson of any serious attempt to enact a change to the way inflation is calculated, known as chained CPI. Using a new formula for inflation would reduce future cost-of-living increases for Social Security.
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Ellison said he suspected that Democratic leadership would back members of the Progressive Caucus in rejecting the use of a chained CPI for deficit reduction. Even Obama, Ellison added, would not likely cave to those demands, as he has not mentioned the chained CPI in the context of the government shutdown.
I dont think hes willing to give into extortion, Ellison said.