AARP launches campaign opposing entitlement cuts as part of debt-ceiling deal

The seniors' lobby AARP launched a national campaign Wednesday urging lawmakers to reject massive cuts to Medicare and Social Security as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

The U.S. is expected to breach its $14.3 trillion debt limit by May 16, but the administration says it can stave off defaulting on its payments until Aug. 2. Lawmakers however say they want to deal with the issue before then.

The AARP's multimillion-dollar campaign seeks to fight against proposals that contain arbitrary limits, caps or triggers. It includes a national television ad along with grassroots and online activities.

"Older Americans care deeply about the nation's fiscal health, but making political deals that cut their hard earned benefits is the wrong way to address these challenges," AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said in a statement. "Imposing arbitrary, across-the-board spending cuts will not only reduce benefits for today's seniors and tomorrow's retirees, but also add to the financial burden that Americans are already shouldering for their health and financial security."

The television ad, which began running Wednesday, is aimed squarely at seniors and tells them that lawmakers are considering "cutting your benefits so Washington can pay its bills."

The campaign comes as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Tuesday that Republicans are demanding "real reform, real cuts this year."

Cantor told a group of physicians that the upcoming vote on raising the debt ceiling is "the biggest leverage moment of this [legislative] session" for dealing with entitlement reform.

"We're going to make sure that we have firm commitments," he vowed, "and the ability to deliver on those commitments."