Obama Snubs GOP, Ditches Social Security Cuts

Olive branch to Boehner is rescinded
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 20, 2014 2:25 PM CST
Obama Snubs GOP, Ditches Social Security Cuts
In this Feb. 12 photo, President Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

President Obama is done playing nice with the budget. The White House will be ditching a proposal to curtail Social Security cost-of-living increases, along with other policies that he included last year in an attempt to reach out to Republicans, the Wall Street Journal reports. "This year, the administration is returning to a more traditional budget presentation that is focused on achieving the president's vision," a White House official said in a memo, meaning that it will focus on Democratic priorities.

"Republicans consistently showed a lack of willingness to negotiate … refusing to identify even one unfair tax loophole they would be willing to close," an official tells the Washington Post. Obama is willing to negotiate, he said, but not in the budget. He will, however, stick to the overall spending limits Congress has already agreed to. John Boehner called Obama's position a "non-starter," Politico reports. "The president has no interest in doing anything, even modest, to addresss the looming debt crisis," his spokesman said. (More budget stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X