Gee who would have guessed the BI-PARTISAN Debt Commission releases their findings and the reaction was this
BIG SURPRISE MS. Lame Duck Loser Pelosi can't stand the thought of anything BI-PARTISAN. :roll: Who would have guessed with her record of Bi Partisanship :wave:
The commission is co-chaired by former financial advisor to President Clinton, Erskine Bowles, and former Republican Senator from Wyoming, Alan Simpson
Anticipating controversy, Simpson said, "We'll both be in a witness protection program when this is all over, so look us up."
Congressional Democrats were not amused.
"This proposal is simply unacceptable" said lame-duck House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA. "Any final proposal from the Commission should do what is right for our children and grandchildren's economic security as well as for our nation's fiscal security, and it must do what is right for our seniors, who are counting on the bedrock promises of Social Security and Medicare. And it must strengthen America's middle class families--under siege for the last decade, and unable to withstand further encroachment on their economic security."
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, echoed the Speaker's sentiments.
"The recommendations released today in the Fiscal Commission's chairmen's mark are a recipe for economic disaster and social regression. With some exceptions, the recommendations read like the wish lists of right-wing conservatives for the last 50 years," Nadler said.
"Increasing the retirement age is a terrible idea and would lead to serious reductions in benefits when our seniors need them most," Nadler said. "It simply isn't necessary to tinker with Social Security, which will be solvent for the foreseeable future and adds nothing to the federal deficit."
Nadler condemned the proposal as "kowtowing to the ranks of the billionaires' club."
Congressional Republicans, who will take over control of the House in January, were cautiously optimistic.
"We appreciate Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles for their leadership on the Fiscal Commission, and their shared commitment to help address our pressing fiscal challenges," said GOP Reps. Paul Ryan, WI, Jeb Hensarling, TX and Dave Camp, MI, in a joint statement. "This is a provocative proposal, and while we have concerns with some of their specifics, we commend the co-chairs for advancing the debate. We will continue to work toward solutions that help spur economic growth and restrain the explosive growth of government spending."
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka ripped the report.
"The chairmen of the Deficit Commission just told working Americans to 'Drop Dead,'" Trumka said in a release. "Especially in these tough economic times, it is unconscionable to be proposing cuts to the critical economic lifelines for working people, Social Security and Medicare. Some people are saying this is plan is just a 'starting point.' Let me be clear, it is not."
But Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, called the propsal "most encouraging."
"It is truly a remarkable plan," MacGuineas said. "This plan does it all - allows time for the economy to strengthen, brings down future deficits and debt, protects the most disadvantaged, makes government more effective and efficient, and promotes economic growth and competiveness."
"It's great to see debate among the fiscal commission's members now centering on a bold proposal that addresses each area of the budget," MacGuineas said. "While certainly not everyone will agree with each and every recommendation, the proposal certainly would fix our fiscal problems and truly reflects a balanced compromise across party lines."
BIG SURPRISE MS. Lame Duck Loser Pelosi can't stand the thought of anything BI-PARTISAN. :roll: Who would have guessed with her record of Bi Partisanship :wave: