Dem senator: Exempt Social Security from debt limit, if necessary

By Bernie Becker and Mike Lillis - 07/13/11 03:26 PM ET

... Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida said Wednesday that he was ready with legislation that would keep Social Security payments from counting against the debt limit, in case lawmakers do not raise the $14.3 trillion ceiling by the Aug. 2 deadline.

The Democrat, who represents a state with many retirees, said in a statement that similar legislation was enacted during a 1996 budget showdown.

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Nelson declared that congressional leaders were currently playing political games with the debt limit, and asked whether proposals to prioritize Social Security payments would ensure the checks get sent out.

“If not, I stand ready with legislation that would temporarily exempt Social Security obligations from the public debt limit,” Nelson, who also faces a potentially difficult 2012 reelection campaign, wrote to Geithner ...

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/171297-dem-senator-exempt-social-security-from-debt-limit-if-necessary

SS. should be seperated from the general fund debt disscussions entirely anyway. This should be permanent.

Surprisingly he actually has a good idea there, he just needs to farther with it.

Such a shame we were cheated out of Gore's presidency. We wouldn't be in this mess right now.

should take the hit and try to sell your vision of that

Many of the options are not good: current military personnel or veterans, federal agency staff, seniors or folk on disability ...

I knew some folk hit by this game in the Gingrich era, and they hurt from it