Forum Post: The chained CPI: A zombie benefit cut still walks

It happens every time: Republicans and Democrats get into a standoff over the federal budget, and their best plan for wriggling out of it is to nickel-and-dime people on Social Security and Medicare.

The worst zombie in this package, a terrible idea that simply won't die, is the "chained CPI." This is a version of the consumer price index that purportedly yields a more "accurate" reading of inflation, which is supposed to be virtuous because Social Security recipients get a cost-of-living increase every year based on inflation.

The chained CPI has risen to walk among us again in the muttering and jawboning around the government shutdown/debt limit standoff and the search for an exit. We're hearing again about a "grand bargain" on the government deficit -- never mind that the deficit is falling, not rising -- that would trade, say, cuts in Social Security and Medicare and some kind of tax reform for an end to the government shutdown and an increase in the debt limit. http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-chained-20131004,0,4565719.story

Dear Democrats,

Now that the original deal was kicked to the curb...........get off your ass and do the right thing. Really.

I don't expect a whole lot, or anything, from you. Step up or don't bother sending me an email asking for cash. Don't even bother going there.