Even though Social Security has nothing to do with the budget deficit, Republicans insist on adopting chained CPI, a new formula for inflation increases in benefits. It is just a disguised attempt to reduce Social Security benefits. The current formula already fails to take account of the real inflationary expenses that face seniors: utilities and health care. The new formula will further penalize people who can ill afford these cuts. And the only reason for the cuts is to reduce taxes for the wealthy. Senators Mikulski & Cardin and Congressman Cummiings have publicly stated their opposition to any deals that contain this disguised cut.. But Congressmen Sarbanes & Ruppersberger have failed to do so.

President Obama promised to raise taxes on the wealthies 2 percent and not cut social security, medicare and medicaid. Cutting these programs will not reduce the deficit and will hurt seniors and the most vulnerable people in our society. These cuts are also unnecessary and will not reduce the deficit. The majority of Americans are against these cuts.

Speaker of the House John Boehner does not acknowledge that President Obama has a mandate from the American people to end the Bush Tax Cuts. We the American People demand that you cease to stonewall progress.

You know what upsets me? Listening to the news and the democrats/republicans tackle the fiscal cliff like it is a poker game. But this is not a poker game--this is our lives. Millions of Americans will be affected by decisions that only a few people will make. We can not just sit back and let them ruin our future. We need Medicare, we need Medicade. Our parents and grandparents need their Social Security. A 64 year old should not be required to work to survive. They have taken care of their family for over 40 years. No more phone calls--Washington just empties their mailbox. WE need to apply pressure. We need to get out in the street and march. They will only do to us what we allow them to do. More people can not suffer. So we March-- Sunday, December 23rd to your nearest Occupy meeting area. I am in Richmond, Ca-- I will be headed to Oakland. The time for change is now. WE can make this happen.

Let's FORCE the government to address mental illness in this county and the seriousness of it, INSTEAD of the smoke and mirrors they are trying to use Gun Control as the red herring!!!

Those of us who have contributed FICA taxes throughout our working years would be very disappointed if Social Security benefits (not entitlements) are a part of ANY negotiations before you. Remember, WE WORKED HARD TO HAVE YOU RE-ELECTED. Do not let us down by bowing to the losers.

Any senior with assets over $1,000,000 can afford not to receive $15,000 year in SS benefits. Let them pass that money back into Social Security to keep the fund alive for senior to come.

Being one of the many retirees in this age, we have paid into this system all our lives, since we began working some of us as early as 16 yrs old while in school. We deserve to be able to have SS and Medicare available for us when we need it! All of us were not as fortunate as others to retire from a high paying job with benefits to have enough to live on and have medical care. This is what we paid for to have SS & Medicare! It should not be cut at all! Find the cuts elsewhere.

The GOP once again is targeting Social Security to balance the budget. There are too many senior citizens in this country dependent on this income. Cutting Social Security is not the solution to reducing the deficit.

Public right to communication.

I am currently on Social Security,and i can tell you unequivocally it is impossible to live a decent life on SS as it stands today.To reduce benefits any further would be outright CRIMINAL!!

There are reports in the press suggesting that President Obama may be willing to reduce future cost of living adjustments for Social Security recipients as part of a "fiscal cliff" deal. The fact of the matter is that even the present basis for calculating adjustments does not keep up with inflation because of the disproportionate contribution of health care costs to their total expenditures. Reducing future adjustments would only make things worse.