Huffman Statement on Reports that White House Budget Will Include Chained CPI

April 09, 2013

WASHINGTON­—Congressman Jared Huffman issued the following statement following news reports that President Obama’s budget includes a chained consumer price index (chained CPI):

“I am disappointed to hear that the President’s budget will include a chained CPI. Quite simply, chained CPI means reduced benefits for seniors who have paid into the system, earned those benefits, and are counting on them.

My 83-year-old mom is like millions of seniors around the country. She worked hard all her life and paid into the system, and when she retired she counted on the government to honor its end of the bargain. I intend to make sure our government keeps its promise. We can reduce the deficit without forcing extra costs on the middle class, seniors, and the most vulnerable in our society.

While there is much in the President’s budget to admire, I strongly oppose chained CPI, and I will vote against these benefit cuts should they come before the House.”

  • Congressman Huffman spoke out against a chained CPI on the House Floor on March 20, 2013.
     
  • On February 15, 2013, Congressman Huffman joined 106 House Democrats in sending a letter to President Obama urging him not to include the chained CPI in his budget proposal.
     
  • Congressman Huffman is a cosponsor of the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act (H.R. 649).
     
  • Congressman Huffman voted for the Van Hollen Amendment, which would have achieved substantial deficit reduction without reducing Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.
     
  • In the Budget Committee markup on March 13, 2013, Congressman Huffman voted in support of an amendment that, if passed, would have added a Sense of the House opposing Social Security privatization to the House Budget.

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