Leahy urges Deficit Reduction Committee to make proceedings public
Leahy: “An open and transparent process for the work of the Committee is vital to ensuring that the recommendations of the Committee will have the confidence and support of the American people.”
Sanders message to Obama on Social Security: ‘Mr. President, keep your word!’
In a Senate floor speech, Sanders focused on the White House’s newfound interest in Social Security as a target for cuts. “Where does this come from?” Sanders asked. “The president understands that Social Security hasn’t contributed one nickel to our deficit. In fact, Social Security has a $2.6 trillion surplus today, can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 25 years. Social Security is funded by the payroll tax, not by the U.S. Treasury.”
Welch holds deficit reduction town meeting
As Congress considers how to get the nation’s fiscal house in order, Rep. Peter Welch will host a statewide telephone town hall meeting Tuesday night to seek input from Vermonters about how to cut the deficit.
Pulcer: The shared sacrifice question
If the American people had known the result of the Bush Tax Cuts and the War of Choice (Iraq) would be higher prices and more federal debt, would they have really wanted it? We were never asked. We were never encouraged to “share the sacrifice”.
On video: Douglas says, ‘Now is not the time to protect the status quo’
Douglas called for systemic reforms: “We must break free from the dangerous cycle of managing deficits year on end.”
On video: Smith says, ‘It’s not productive for us to say anything is dead on arrival’
Shumlin: “We don’t want to transfer Montpelier’s fiscal problems onto the backs of taxpayers.”
Cillo: Health care costs are eating up 15 percent of state’s budget
Cillo says that the General Fund obligation for health care is now about 15 percent a year.
Public Strategies Group message to lawmakers: Outcome-based services = results + savings
The reforms are conceptual, but the notion that the state needs to rethink the way it functions is a given, according to GOP and Democratic leaders.
Vermont’s deficit: How bad is it? Vtdigger.org brings you video + analysis
Stephen Klein, chief fiscal officer of the Joint Fiscal Office, told lawmakers they need to cut about 20 percent of state spending by 2012.
