WSJ: Mitch McConnell Is "Unlikely" to Push for Social Security and Medicare Changes in 2018

[CousinIT]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/mitch-mcconnell-is-unlikely-to-push-for-social-security-and-medicare-changes-in-2018-1513900930?mod=e2twp

WASHINGTON—Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he was unlikely to tackle changes to Social Security or Medicare next year, potentially extinguishing the hopes of House Speaker Paul Ryan to wring savings from the entitlement programs.

“The only way I would be willing to go to entitlement reform—I assume that’s a euphemism for things like Social Security and Medicare—would be if there were Democratic support,” Mr. McConnell said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “I’ve not heard of any.”

Mr. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has what amounts to veto power over next year’s agenda because he controls the Senate floor. In the new year, he will lead a Republican caucus with a narrow 51-49 margin in the Senate, where most legislation requires 60 votes to advance.

By declining to take on entitlements, Mr. McConnell avoids what would be a tough political sell for Republicans, and could spare candidates heavy fire from Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. One thing at a time, patience. They will take it all soon enough

But at least we dont have someone in office who ....oops, I almost did it again

[eleny]

2. Things *should* be bad enough for him and his Party

But I wonder how he'll answer for the deficit they engineered. How's he going to resolve that? Doesn't the House have something to say about going after entitlements? They're in the Freedom Caucus's sights.

[Takket]

3. Once Ryan Rams it through the House he won't have much choice

[Irish_Dem]

4. I think he is warning Ryan not to pull that?

[OliverQ]

5. McConnell also just said he's now warming up to Trump's tweets.

These people seem possessed by demons. It's so freakin bizarre how much they worship such a sick, disgusting excuse for a human.

This is worse than North Korea.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Hate to burst your balloon,

McConnell this morning is asking Graham,and Cornyin to continue the repeal ObamaCare. When McConnell said that he might lose the Senate as well as the House,well,you just know,wrecking ball will be used to destroy the Social Saftey Net.

[C_U_L8R]

7. No, they'll just call it something cynical

like Make Healthcare Great Again
while gutting every program and
leaving good people to suffer and die.
Fucking Republicans.

[dalton99a]

8. Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

- Job 21: 7

[a kennedy]

9. Dont believe a FAWKING word any repub or their FAWKING stooges say.

[Freethinker65]

10. No pushing necessary. Paygo is built into the tax bill

When Tax revenues fail to meat benchmarks, across the board cuts are automatically triggered unless congress votes otherwise with dumbass temporary extensions (I think they just got one?).

[Hoyt]

11. While one can't believe deplorables, I'd rather he say he's not doing it, than he's going to gut it.

We'll have to wait and see what happens, and get prepared to vote like heck beginning with Congressional primaries that start as early as May 2017 (a few states actually start in March). Big voter turnouts and good candidates will put pressure on GOPers.

[GeorgeGist]

12. No doubt, they're saving it for ...

Christmas.

[Me.]

13. The DEms Should Run On It Anyway

and show the videos of Ryan saying he wants to

[dalton99a]

14. Absolutely

It is a must.

[roamer65]

15. Dump and run.

They know they are toast and they are gonna dump it on the Dems in January 2019.