Liberal Dems urge supercommittee to preserve Medicare

Liberal leaders in the House are urging the budget supercommittee’s members to prioritize economic recovery and entitlement programs over spending cuts as they search for ways to slash deficits.

Democratic Reps. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (Minn.), co-chairmen of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), argued that creating jobs, raising revenue and protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are “the necessary components to truly repair the American economy.”

“We ask that you lead the Select Committee by these simple core principles,” the liberals wrote in a letter they’re readying for delivery to the supercommittee’s co-chairmen, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

{mosads}“The American people have spoken loud and clear on their priorities for our nation,” Grijalva and Ellison added. “They want Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare protected, they want billionaires and corporations to finally pay their fair share and they want to be able to get back to work to earn a fair living.”

On the jobs front, Grijalva and Ellison offered no specific policy proposals, arguing only that “creating jobs is the best way to get our economy back on track and the only significant way to reduce our deficit.” But the CPC has long backed efforts to increase infrastructure and other public works spending in the near-term to jumpstart the ailing job market.

On the revenue issue, the two Democrats were a bit more specific.

“It is time to get rid of tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, end the Bush-era tax handouts, and close corporate loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas,” they wrote.

Lastly, they argued against scaling back benefits under Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — “overwhelmingly popular programs that form the bedrock of America’s middle and working classes.”

“We should not be cutting the lifelines that millions of Americans have paid for and depend on,” they argued, “particularly during tough economic times.”

Grijalva and Ellison are circulating the letter Thursday in search of endorsements.

The 12-member budget supercommittee is charged with reducing deficit spending by $1.5 trillion over the next decade. If it doesn’t come up with at least $1.2 trillion in cuts by Nov. 23, that amount in automatic cuts — split evenly between defense and domestic programs — will take effect.

The panel has a tough road ahead, as the Republican members are opposed to new tax hikes and the Democrats object to cuts to senior benefits under the entitlement programs. Many economists argue that both sides will have to give some ground if the government hopes to rein in its projected deficit spending.