Budget

Senate Dems warn Obama on Social Security, Medicare cuts

by Erik Wasson - 02/14/14 1:11 PM ET

Senate Democrats on Friday told President Obama they don’t want to see cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid in his annual budget.

Sixteen senators wrote to the president as fears persist among liberals that Obama will once again offer some entitlement cuts in his budget, which is set to be released March 4.

In last April’s budget, Obama proposed changing the way the government calculates inflation. The change to the chained consumer price index (CPI) would have reduced retirement benefits as well as increasing some taxes.

Obama also proposed increasing means testing for outpatient and drug benefits under Medicare.

{mosads}In total, the budget had $1 trillion in spending cuts the administration touted as a sign of Obama’s seriousness on the deficit.

The Senate Democrats are warning that cuts to Social Security do not jive with the president’s focus on income inequality. The issue of entitlement spending is a highly charged one this election year, and many Democrats are trying to paint themselves as the party with compassion.

“Mr. President: These are tough times for our country. With the middle class struggling and more people living in poverty than ever before, we urge you not to propose cuts in your budget to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits – cuts which would make life even more difficult for some of the most vulnerable people in America,” the senators said.

The letter to Obama was organized by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, and includes embattled Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) as a signatory.

“Social Security has not contributed one penny to the deficit,,” the letter goes on to state. “We are also opposed to shifting the cost of healthcare onto senior citizens, the poor, and the disabled by cutting Medicare and Medicaid benefits.”

The other signatories to the letter are: Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Jack Reed (R.I.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Edward Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Al Franken (Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.).

Sanders said in an interview that, given the fact the annual budget deficit has been cut in half, Obama’s focus has to shift to helping the middle class and poor.

“The focus of attention right now has got to be on the collapsing middle class,” Sanders said. “What we need from the president now is a reassurance that he is not going to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.”

On Friday, White House press secretary Jay Carney was asked at the daily briefing whether chained CPI will be in the budget, and he declined to say.

“What I can tell you is the president has demonstrated in the past and continues — and will continue to demonstrate his commitment to achieving additional deficit reduction that addresses our medium- and long-term challenges through a balanced approach,” he said.