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Let’s Keep Our Eye on the Ball: No Cuts to Safety Net Programs!
As the December 31, 2012 deadline fast approaches for decisions on
what to do with trillions of dollars in federal programs set to expire on that
date, speculation is rife as to whether a “Grand Bargain” will be struck.
Politicians of both parties are posturing for position as headlines and
pundits warn of “falling over the fiscal cliff.” The debates between the
principal spokespersons of the Democratic and Republican parties are
going off in many different directions, creating a maze of confusion and
uncertainty.
The fact of the matter is that much of the hullabaloo is a sideshow to
what is most at stake in the coming weeks. In the first place, under the
“sequestration” — which unless changed by Congress will take effect
January 1, 2013 — there will be an automatic across the board 10% cut in
domestic programs, including education, food safety, child care, home
heating, environment, and much more, as well as a 2% cut in payments to
Medicare providers. This will be extremely damaging to hundreds of
urgently needed human services programs. In addition, federal aid to the
states and cities will be sharply curtailed.
At the same time, if cuts are enacted to Medicare, Medicaid and
Social Security, this will jeopardize the health, welfare, and retirement
security of the 90 million people who depend on these programs for their
very existence.
A special target of the benefit-cutters is Medicare, with the emphasis
on extending the eligibility date for coverage. Polls show that 71% of
Democratic and 68% of Republican voters oppose any extension. Yet in a
front page article in the December 1–2, 2012 Wall Street Journal titled
“GOP Takes Aim at Entitlements,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell calls for such an extension, along with a number of other cuts.
President Obama has in the past indicated a willingness to support
legislation delaying the age for seniors to be eligible for Medicare
coverage. In his “Grand Bargain” talks with Boehner in the summer of
2011, he also proposed $700 billion in Medicare cuts and additional cuts
to Medicaid.