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Subscribe to RSSBuoyed by national editorials condemning some Democrats’ desire not to touch entitlements in any fiscal cliff negotiations, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) challenged the White House today on the issue of entitlement reform.
Citing White House adviser David Plouffe recent comments that “fiscal cliff” talks should address Medicare and Medicaid, the “chief drivers of our deficit,” Cantor said, “we have seen, this morning, several editorial writers indicate the same; that it is important that we put these drivers of the deficit on the table and include them as part of any agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff.”
Are we inching toward bipartisan compromise on the fiscal cliff? Is the president signaling he'll be more willing to work with business leaders in his second term? No Labels co-founder Mark McKinnon, Fortune Magazine's Leigh Gallagher and former DLC Chair Harold Ford Jr. join a conversation on these issues.
Cantor defended the GOP’s position of no increase on taxes for the wealthiest Americans and claimed that the party has “done its part” by putting new revenue on the table in the form of minimizing tax deductions and closing loopholes. He then accused the Obama administration of not putting forward a “good-faith effort…to talk about the real problem that we're trying to fix.”
Cantor’s desire to shed light on what he sees as Democrats’ intransigence on entitlement reform is a calculated effort by the GOP to try and paint the president and his allies as stubbornly in favor of policies that will add to the deficit, GOP aides told NBC News.
Recently, Democrats have coalesced around the idea that a “fiscal cliff” agreement should not necessarily touch Social Security and likely even Medicare or Medicaid -- and only pertain to spending cuts and taxes.
“If the public sees we’re willing to give something and Democrats are not, it’ll strengthen our negotiating position,” one GOP aide admitted.
It remains to be seen whether the American public will buy such an argument, especially with polls showing a majority supporting the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy to pay down the debt and not raise even the entry age into Medicare.
Michael Conroy / AP
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va.
Republicans, however, are banking on saying that Democrats are just as, if not more, unyielding on their “sacred cows,” and that leading to the typical Washington narrative of both parties being unwilling to move toward the center in favor of their own special interests. That, Republicans believe, could ultimately hurt the president, elected on the promise of doing big things.
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Hey Cantor! How about you give up your "entitlements" first?
You know, as a good faith, lead by example sort of thing...
The posh health club, the free health insurance and all the other government perks you gravy sucking oinkers funnel from the taxpayers.
Piss off, Can't-nor!!! You are such a little bitch, just like your entire party, and all of your constituants! PC's the lot of you! Grow a backbone, or a set of nuts, already! Stop letting those Tea Potty people push you around. Keep it up, and we will be saying good-bye to your party come 2014. What a waste of flesh you idiots are.
What we need to do is cut spending, we should start by stopping your paychecks. You morons have done nothing in the last four years, pay it back! Then we cut out your entitlements. Retirement, medical benies, the whole nine yards, and we save a ton of money, right there. You did not earn it, so, pay it back.
Damned Rethugs, playing politics again, when we need your help. Grow up, and stop acting like childish fools.
All republicans are fake and phony. Every last one of them. Do not sit at the table with them. Go off the cliff!!!
Don't offer Republicans any compromises. Agreed, let's go over and watch the Republicans hair turn gray.
Let's begin with the entitlements for the rich and defense contractors.
We are going over the cliff. Hooray! Victory! It is the only prudent course when dealing with monsters like Cantor and McConnell. Everyone will be aghast, until the Democrats choose which tax cuts to give back on January 3. You must meet the beasts with force! Otherwise the middle class will have their deductions taken away and the millionaires will effectively keep their tax cuts.
As a Virginian who lives far inland and to the West.Cantor does not fall in my Congressional district but he DOES fall in the highly polpulated Northern and Eastern Virginia area whose votes overwhelmed George Allen for Senate and sent President Obama back in office.The people of Virginia is sick and tired of the Allens and Cantors and the Democratic Party should "TARGET" Cantor above ALL Congressional seats in 2014.The people of the aforementioned areas WILL send this GREEDY,out of touch RICH worshipping, to hell with the people do nothing Politician to the SAME wreck heap that they did Allen.Virginias are NOT uninformed people, and are NOT naive and ignorant.WE are watching EVERYTHING that Cantor has not DONE in DC in sharp contrast to what he HAS tried to DO to the people.To bad I can't vote AGAINST him.
I will add: "Editorials" across the country by the SAME billionaires who know NOTHING about getting DIRT on their GREEDY, GRUBBY hands does NOT constitute the milions of us who the POLLS clearly indicate that WE the people don't WANT what Cantor proposes along with the DUMB Repubs who once again,think the American people are FOOLS that are going to lie DOWN and take what they are PUTTING down.NO WAY Cantor
If people in your state are sick of Cantor why is he still in office?
PTI,
What the republicans are doing is the very same thing bain capital does. People put money into a pension fund and the vulture capitalist steal it from them. The very same thing is happening, put money into SS, Medicare and the republicans want to steal it by calling it an entitlement and changing the rules. romney/ryan are alive and well even though they lost the election.
So now it starts, scare and smear, vilifying the weakest and most vulnerable. No real solutions other than slash and burn. Didn't take them long, to start the shrieking about the moochers and parasitic drainers of the Nation's coffers. It'll get louder and more vitriolic as the deadline looms. Despicable mutts.
Cantor trying to make the President the bad guy again, usual republican tactic, any sane person knows that reform is needed but only in a balanced and fair way.
Let the show begin, the ride promises to be bumpy and it will entail a hard landing. 2014, vote 'em out.
If SS and Medicare are on the table, I consider Mr. Cantor your Retirement and your salary on the table for cuts. Your Retirement fund is an entitlement, for obstrucism, and not doing your job. Put up or shut up on entitlements, unless everyone in Congress Retirement and Medical Care is on the table also.
Sorry Eric - the "entitlements" that are a problem are those enjoyed by the wealthy and the defense contractors.
The wealthy don't have mortgages, so ending that deduction hurts me.
And leaving the Estate Taxes at current levels helps me how? I have no "estate".
Does he think we are fools?
UVA........have you ever heard of DOUBLE TAXATION????
By taxing "estates" you are taxing money that the people who died....and who.....ALREADY PAID TAXES ON....And thats FAIR???........... WHY???
So lets put it in a different context, since you believe the Government is ONLY taxing "rich dead people"(and in your mind deceivingly so simply because THEIR RICH).............OKAY.
How about a POOR waitress, who works for MINIMUM WAGE. The only way she can survive on her low wages, is by the extra money she brings in,............ through her TIPS.
The Government then TAXES those tips,...... that the customer .....who gave the waitress the tips, ................ALREADY PAID TAXES ON......
but Obama-Claus .......and the Democrats NEED the money....... to pay for all the promised, and never ending entitlements....and that your version of FAIR???
Where have you been? The employers have been taking the poor waitress tips and giving it back as salary for years, then the tips is considered part of employers cost to be written off at tax time. How do you like them apples? Employers have been screwing employees since the beginning of time. That's why employees formed unions, to have a voice and not get screwed.
Reality check you Obama-Claus cheerleaders, you really believe that there is no end in sight for Government give aways?
Do you really believe that without cutting Government SPENDING, we can avoid National bankruptcy? Do you know the Government is ADVERTISING food stamps in Mexico?
Do you know the number of Americans who, when they ran out of their 99 weeks of unemployment, APPLIED for Social Security Disability?
And how about OBAMAS 'so-called", MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT, which simply employee contribution to Social Security.......contributions down.......applications for benefits up.......hhhhmmmm.
But lets all TAX all them EVIL RICH GUYS to pay for all of this.......that will solve EVERYTHING.....not!
Stop attacking prepaid programs such as social security and medicare! Take those two programs out of the federal budget as they do not belong there. We are sick of hearing about cutting those programs and are prepared to protest mightily. Cantor would not have any talking points and we are tired of hearing Kock Brothers Speak!
Mruseurhead
Do you believe we can go on cutting taxes forever and not go bankrupt? Funny we were doing OK in the balanced budget department after WWII until Ronald Regan came into the picture and upset the apple cart by make that drastic cut in taxes and kept on spending. At least he had enough smarts to realize that he went to far, and had to back tract. You modern day GOPPERS want to go head long cutting taxes even though the last 12 years have proved that cutting taxes only get us deeper in the hole. It does nothing to spur growth.
All those that are jumping on the bandwagon of SS and Medicare can trace this attack back to an article written by the Heritage group back in 2004 - 2005 during the debacle called the Bush league administration; the GOP began it's attack with talking points ever since.
Have news for you Republican supporters - there's no way it's ever going private nor are you going to take this important program from the American people.
President Obama can distinguish his whole presidency be protecting it and he will.
What is so bizarre about the "cut entitlements" campaign is the way that the media forgets that entitlements have been getting pared away for years - and it has had no impact on debt/the economy. First, General Assistance welfare was cut out of existence, and then the AFDC was "reformed" out of existence. Everything from Social Security Disability to food stamps has been cut repeatedly. After cutting these entitlements to the bone, what we have is deeper poverty. Meanwhile, the wealth accumulated at the top has increased substantially. The nation remains deep in debt. Ending welfare had no impact on debt and the overall economy, nor would wiping out Social Security, Medicaid/Medicare. "Entitlement reform" translates into redistributing public dollars upward. It's a solidly anti-American, anti-middle class agenda.
Unfortunately Cantor, Boehner and McCarthy are the problem just as Reid, Pelosi and Obama are. Birds of feather but in different parties and worlds away from Main Street, selfish and out of touch.
I'm staring to believe that you just can't fix stupid. Right or left, we all know that we need to shoot for a balanced budget. Clinton actually did it, so we have a model for taxes and spending priorities that is proven and resulted in the best economy in US history.
Right or left, we also agree that social programs need some tweaks. People live longer, uninsured people end up in the ER for free health care. Gee wiz- now they have to buy in. But cutting taxes and taking on the welfare of 28 million Iraqis? Worse, loosing the war to boot. Letting Bin Laden go at Tora Bora? This whole middle east boondoggle was 4 trillion down the drain, if you include the costs beyond just the military aspects. We also provided aid, bribed countries to act interested, building bases, infrastructure and supply.
Here is the problem with your Obama rants. For every dollar of social programs, the Repubs wasted 10 dollars on lost causes with no clear objective. You guys got smoked. Recons had the leverage to do some major reforms to social programs, they walked trying to make O look bad. We need a true conservative party, the repubs aint it. Romney proposed doubling the deficit, with the idea that taxes and revenues are inversely proportional. Ultimately, eliminate taxes and revenue goes to infinity. Guys, some day when you decide to invest your tattoo and cigarette money in a business you will discover that profits make or break a business- not taxes.
From a practical standpoint I don't think Obama has to do anything. The majority of the country has already said it will blame republicans if we go over the cliff. If Obama and his advisers are right then he will have a whole new set of republicans to deal with. If he is wrong he is still the President. I know that republicans blame democrats and liberals for every ill the country faces and democrats and liberals blame republicans for the same thing. There is more than enough guilt to go around. I don't think anything will get done. Republicans won't and Obama doesn't have to.
I tend to agree with your assessment. The most ardent Tea Party Republican I know is a Pacific Islander, a US citizen by marriage, who thinks that America would be well served by following a Developing World model, more like her homeland. I find it bizarre to hear her talk about the wonderful luxuries enjoyed by the wealthy there. "That's the way it should be here. Don't you think?" When I told her I disagreed with her position, she said, "You're just waiting for the government to give you a check." I am a little too successful and self-aware to feel threatened by this kind of idiotic controversy. So I did tell her firmly that I had been poor (working class) most of my life, that I have worked hard and earned what I have, that I've thought about it, and that I disagree with her position. She then began regurgitating Republican rhetoric like a zealot possessed speaking in tongues. A lovely person, politically naive.
The only problem with the Gutless Obstruction Party's position on entitlement cuts, is they haven't offered any substantial position on cuts, suchas who would experience cuts, how much should be cut or when cuts would go into effect. When the President proposed cuts to Medicare through efficiency measures during the Affordable Healthcare negotiations, these same conservatardian dickheads tried to use it against him in 2010 and 2012. So, when the Cantor and his hee-haw sidekick Ryan make some specific proposals, I say STFU - LOSERS!!
Grow-up Diane! We, the American people are the problem. We vote in people who promise us "free things" and expect them to pull the money for these things from thin air! The only thing the federal government should be providing is a safe country so that we can make a living and take responsibility for ourselves. I shouldn't have to pay to feed, cloth, house, educate, medicate children that you decide to have with absolutely no way to take care of them. I shouldn't have to take care of your mother when she gets too sick to take care of herself and has to be put in a nursing home at my expense. I shouldn't have to pay for your abortions and birth control, or do you really think I should?
Don't forget it was the aging hippie commie party that started handing out IOUs for stealing from soc. security. Go after them to figure out a way to pay for what they stole!
I do give you an "A" though for a typical filthy name calling scag!
Really....
Where is the list, where's the details on the table.
Not on the GOP.gov's website.
Not on Cantors website.
He's a liar....Very good at rhetoric, not so good at details.
Another thing the cheif driver of the deficit is "lack of revenue" and bloated Military spending.
Period.
I think the Tea Party's outrage and rise in the political viewfinder grew out of the mortgage meltdown and the subsequent global economic collapse. Wealthy, successful people found that their businesses had failed, and they were cast out of their accustomed comfortable circumstances. They found themselves nearly in the world that the rest of us had been inhabiting all along - a world including the very poor. I say nearly with us because like Romney outside of his mansions and offices, these people seem quite lost. Oddly the newly minted neo-conservatives display social attitudes and behaviors common in classes of unenlightened, amoral barbarians living on the fringes of society - moonshiners, motorcycle clubs, hillbillies, the KKK. Into the consciousness of these new poor (the ex-rich) came the realization that the chronic, hardcore, uneducated, and unhealthy poor were eligible for and collecting government support payments of various kinds that they were not. Welcome to my world, the 88% club. That's when Country Club-grade envy of the poor, the disabled, and the elderly hit the social conservative fan.
Most of us are accustomed to this kind of payment arrangement. We recognize that the reason these programs came to exist is to tamp down the immense blight of poverty. How can people like Cantor really imagine that scuttling these programs will benefit the general population, the 88%?
I personally don't think these government insurance and financial trusts should be untouchable; adjustments will surely be required as demographics change and society itself is shaped by the sweep of time. The greed of the wealthy and the need of the poor is not unique to the US. We do have unprecedented power to collectively choose our response as a nation. I have observed that historically social movements that tend to unite people in healthy, common cause succeed in the long term. That is true. Though it is not always true.
Here's a message for Eric Cantor and the "Least productive," "Do nothing 2" Congress and all the confrontational TEA-Republican hacks in office. Medicare and Medicaid are not the chief drivers of our deficit as cited by Cantor. The chief drivers of the deficit are two unfunded wars and a huge tax giveaway by the previous administration. Add to that truth the relaxing of rules and regulations of Wall Street, Banking and mortgage houses, which lead to the housing market crash, and you have the resulting recession we had. Had it not been for Obama quick move to stabilize the markets, banking and the auto industry, we would be in a deep depression. Cantor and cronies can harp all they want, the people know the real story and all the lying they shove out will bury them in 2014 if they do not accept their party lost decisively!
It's the middle class who needs the protection - Not the upper 2%! Going forward in time into 2013 and the House leadership of John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan coupled with the leadership of Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, and their all-white men committee heads, American's will have to pay close attention to the actions and legislation's passed. The last congress(112th) failed to produce any legislation except anti-abortion bills as did numerous state houses. Social Security tax applies only to the first $106,800 of wages in 2009 through 2011. Employers also must withhold income taxes on wages. An unemployment tax and certain other levies apply.
These programs should not be limited as outlined, and in doing so, funding of the Social Programs would never have received the attention received. Entitlement reform is code words to fight tooth-and-nail to protect the top 2% from increased taxes. There are proposals that any tax code modification occur above the Adjusted Gross Income line on the 1040. Below the Adjusted Gross Income line on the 1040 would effect every middle class citizen in America.
Only the richest people fully utilize these exceptions, exemptions, limitations, adjustments and the like which have been implemented long ago when the richest could buy every congressman and set in motion implementation of these exclusions for limiting or minimizing tax liability. There are too many exclusions to limit tax liability for the super-rich and there is where the closing of loopholes must be made. Look closely at the long form 1040, you will find many areas with limitations and exclusions above the Adjusted gross income, and only the richest of the rich fully utilized those areas.
Top earners on Wall Street and Banking should have their entire earnings(Up to $5,000,000.00) taxed and not limited to the first $110,100.00 for Social Security and federal taxes without limitations, adjustments or exceptions and at ordinary rates. Additionally Social Security benefits should not be taxed on retired peoples tax returns as they have already been taxed and paid into the system to receive these benefits as they are already earned from past employment. It's the middle class who needs the protection - Not the upper 2%!
The 2014 Mid-term election is a-coming
I already got 20 years into Social Security and Medicare, and, I got another 40-60 years to go.
Expletive you, GOP, for taking away my thoughts of retirement.
The Republicans keep wanting to reduce or delete entitlements such as social security and medicare. These are not entitlements. They are insurance plans from which we paid for every pay day, like regular twice a month premium payments. Now that we are 65 +, and retired, our premiums are paid in full, and we collect our policies. Title 2 of the Social Security Act is OASDI, what we've paid into all these years. It is Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance. Medicare is the same. We paid our premiums every pay day until age 65 when we have to file for our claim for Medicare benefits or get penalized for not signing up timely. These are in trust funds and come from the premiums we paid. It is not from general funds, not federal income taxes paid monies.
Medicaid is an entitlement program if you meet the requirements. Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are paid from general fund federal income tax revenues, tax payer monies from your federal income taxes paid every April to the IRS.
Yes tax the top 1% to pay their fair share. Get after these something for nothing welfare entitlements. Don't tell me that you idiot democrats are going to legalize 15 million illegals with their wife and 2 children coming over here. This will add 60 million to our already 47 million making it 107 million on welfare and low income entitlement rolls. This is not a fiscal cliff this is fiscal suicide. In search type eligibility for U.S. welfare. You will find that legal permenant resident resident immigrants qualify for all welfare and low income entitlements. Obama and the republican congress get into a room with no press allowed and don't come out until you have reached an agreement. Obama was re- elected president and the people re- elected a republican house of representatives so start compromising and both parties stop grandstanding in public. May I remind Obama and the house of rep that neither of you were coronated. The people in their wisdom chose not to give one party control of the country.
Something for nothing entitlements? Social Security, a plan I paid into for 50 years is something for nothing? Medicare, which I also paid into for fifty years, is something for nothing? Millions of us have paid in and we expect our fair return.
How about means testing the wealthy to escalate their pay in amounts? medicare needs help but it doesn't have to be destroyed.
You planning on deporting 15 million people back to wherever? Really? Productive people who want to be here need to be given a pathway to citizenship- They will probably be very positive citizens in this great country.
The country didn't vote on all of the Reps. in Congress, just those in their individual districts. If they had voted on all, a lot more of the crazies would have been sent packing. We spoke on election day and your team lost.
Isn't this the same Eric Cantor who got his ......whipped just a few weeks ago? Why, yes it is. Maybe the next pounding will dislodge his head from the same place.
GOP leaders are acting like they won the election. No deal is better than a bad deal. If no deal by Dec 31st, then the Bush tax cuts for the rich will expire. Obama can always submit separate bills to Congress requesting first for the extension of the PAYROLL tax cut for all americans for one more year and secondly for keeping taxes rates low for workers making less than $250,000 a year. Then we sit and wait for their action. If their love for Grover Norquist is greater than for their country, then it should be our pledge to make sure that these bunch of hypocrites, politicians for hire are banned from public service for good two years from now.