Debt Ceiling Deal Causes No Cuts For Social Security Until At Least 2013

     Nate Silver at the New York Times makes it clear. The debt ceiling deal will cause no cuts in the operating budget of Social Security or any other domestic agency until at least fiscal year 2013. The expiration of the  Bush tax cuts at the end of 2012 may prevent any cut in Social Security's operating budget.

     There is less to this debt ceiling agreement than meets the eye. There is little chance that the "super committee" that has been set up will recommend anything. Even if it does, there is even less chance the recommendation will be adopted. The failure to adopt something will have little immediate effect. Even down the road, the effect should be limited if President Obama is re-elected. If he is not re-elected, there will be problems but there would be problems for Social Security anyway.

     By the way, I really like the idea of using the super committee as a means of forcing Republicans in Congress to vote for enormous cuts in Social Security and Medicare.