Social Security Included In Discussions About Raising The Debt Ceiling

Tags: Nancy Altman, Social Security Administration, Gang of Six, debt reduction, Social Security, debt ceiling

The AP is reporting that:

"The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee says it's impossible to enact spending cuts, a tax code overhaul and changes in benefit programs in the less than two weeks left before an Aug. 2 government default deadline.

"Sen. Kent Conrad says a short-term extension of the debt limit is the most likely solution for Congress and the White House.

"The North Dakota Democrat, part of the so-called "Gang of Six" senators, tells MSNBC he believes 40 senators back his group's $3.7 trillion deficit-reduction proposal and a program of tax changes and revisions in the Social Security and Medicare programs."

Groups that advocate a strong Social Security system are concerned about the inclusion of it in deficit reduction talks. Our guest is Nancy Altman co-chair of the the Strengthen Social Security campaign, which consists of more than 300 national and state organizations. She is the author of "The Battle for Social Security: From FDR's Vision to Bush's Gamble."