Are Democrats playing “gotcha” games?
The unified budget makes a supposition which I don’t think anyone’s prepared to make anymore, which is that the Medicare and Social Security surpluses are there for the asking for whatever other purpose we want to use them for. Now, the Congressional Budget Office tells us we’re within $5 billion or $6 billion of going into Medicare for the first time in years. That’s a very precarious position to be in, given the commitment both parties had made. Q: The ink has barely dried on Bush’s tax cut. Is it politically feasible for Democrats to talk about repealing provisions? A: Can you legitimately take Medicare funds for other purposes? Is that any more politically feasible? Q: So you are going to reopen the tax cut? A: There are three options. We’ve talked about two. The other is to find offsets for what we are doing so we don’t use Medicare funds and we don’t open up the tax cut. Q: Campaign-finance reform is dead in the House for now. What’s your next move? A: What I would do–and I’m go
