House Dems send warning against Social Security cuts

Nearly two-dozen House Democrats have introduced a resolution signaling their strong opposition to any Social Security cuts as part of a debt-ceiling agreement.

The resolution from Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) is a reaction to President Obama's openness to consider spending reductions in Social Security and Medicare in order to reach a deal on raising the debt limit. These and other spending cuts appear likely to make up a significant portion of any final agreement, which has stalled over Republican objections to the inclusion of any tax increases.

Democrats in both the House and Senate recoiled in reaction to Obama's position, and H.Con.Res. 64 is a "sense of the House" resolution that says the House opposes cuts.

"[I]t is the sense of Congress that appropriate reform to strengthen Social Security's long-term outlook should happen in a bipartisan fashion and should ensure that Social Security remains a critical source of protection for the people of the United States and their families without further increasing the retirement age or otherwise decreasing benefits," the resolution reads.

The resolution also notes that Social Security supports 54.8 million people, offers an average of $14,000 a year to recipients, and that Social Security is not a cause of the long-term debt facing the United States.

Ellison's resolution is co-sponsored by 22 other Democrats.