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highplainsdem

(49,022 posts) Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:03 PM Oct 2013

Harry Reid Says Hiking Defense Spending For Social Security Cuts Is A 'Stupid Trade'

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has no interest in a budget deal that trades sequestration relief for entitlement cuts, believing that future spending reductions scheduled to hit the Pentagon give Democrats the upper hand. Instead, the Nevada Democrat told The Huffington Post on Thursday, any large-scale debt-reduction deal must include increased revenue in exchange for changes to mandatory spending programs.

The government funding and debt limit bill signed Wednesday night sets a Dec. 13 deadline for budget negotiators to report back to Congress. If no deal is struck, Congress will have until Jan. 15 to approve continued government funding or face another shutdown.

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Reid noted that while the coming year of sequestration cuts -- if fully implemented -- would be painful, the worst of it will recede in coming years, as spending levels begin increasing automatically. That gives Democrats more leverage to say no to lopsided offers.

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Reid also said that he would make sure to protect Social Security against attempts to trade cuts for sequestration relief, calling such a bargain "a stupid trade."

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/harry-reid-social-security_n_4117325.html

15 replies

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Harry Reid Says Hiking Defense Spending For Social Security Cuts Is A 'Stupid Trade' (Original Post) highplainsdem Oct 2013 OP

I hope so. Maybe this last republican created crisis finally taught them something. They will lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #1

So it's cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid in exchange for tax increases? PoliticAverse Oct 2013 #2

That's not a trade. That's a screwing. No deal. nt silvershadow Oct 2013 #3

Ah, so social security is on the table if there is a good enough (to Washington) trade for it. djean111 Oct 2013 #4

The president and Reid pleaded that they'd Plucketeer Oct 2013 #5

+1,000,000 n/t duffyduff Oct 2013 #10

Completely unlikely they do a... Xolodno Oct 2013 #6

How about this compromise? Half-Century Man Oct 2013 #7

If we can't afford to educate our children, to heal our sick or care for our elderly ... Scuba Oct 2013 #8

^^^ This is the best post I've read on DU all week. n/t winter is coming Oct 2013 #13

Thanks. I keep asking this question and the only answer I get that makes any sense is .... Scuba Oct 2013 #15

Non sequitur. These are two entirely different budgets. PSPS Oct 2013 #9

Thank you, Harry Reid. Please protect Social Security. It is a pittance per person anyway. Thanks JDPriestly Oct 2013 #11

+1 Liberalynn Oct 2013 #12

So the Pentagon is holding an IOU for 2 trillion? I don't think so askeptic Oct 2013 #14

lostincalifornia

(3,639 posts)

1. I hope so. Maybe this last republican created crisis finally taught them something. They will

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:06 PM

Oct 2013

definite have the peoples support on this

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

2. So it's cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid in exchange for tax increases?

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:08 PM

Oct 2013

"If Republicans want to trim Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, Reid said, they'd have to give on tax revenue in exchange."

silvershadow

(10,336 posts)

3. That's not a trade. That's a screwing. No deal. nt

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:12 PM

Oct 2013

djean111

(14,255 posts)

4. Ah, so social security is on the table if there is a good enough (to Washington) trade for it.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:22 PM

Oct 2013

There is no fucking reason to do that.

Plucketeer

(12,882 posts)

5. The president and Reid pleaded that they'd

Reply to djean111 (Reply #4)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:31 PM

Oct 2013

talk about ANYTHING once the ransom demands were dismissed. To me, anything MEANS anything. I wouldn't trust either of them any further than I could throw them. They might have a (D) next to their names, but that only signifies them as Deceivers.

duffyduff

(3,251 posts)

10. +1,000,000 n/t

Reply to Plucketeer (Reply #5)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 08:07 PM

Oct 2013

Xolodno

(6,398 posts)

6. Completely unlikely they do a...

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 04:45 PM

Oct 2013

...cuts for SS for increased Taxes.

They will "compromise" and move the goal posts on retirement age.

Republicans will cite growing age population living longer...

Democrats will cite health coverage will cause people to live longer.

They "might" increase SS contribution...but I think that depends on the immigration bill (if it passes, more population contributing to the trust fund).

Half-Century Man

(5,279 posts)

7. How about this compromise?

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 05:54 PM

Oct 2013

We'll only tax incomes over a million dollars a year by 35% instead of 75%. If Reid slips that memo to Mitch McConnell; we'll see the birth of the new American super hero, the "Scarlet Turtle".

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

8. If we can't afford to educate our children, to heal our sick or care for our elderly ...

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Oct 17, 2013, 06:42 PM

Oct 2013

... just what is it the defense budget is defending?

Besides, increased defense spending will make us safer in the same way that tequila makes us sober.