Rep. Lee: Entitlement cuts should not be “on the table”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) says we have to be optimistic and hopeful because the fiscal cliff is a “human cliff,” affecting millions of people who are unemployed. She believes tax cuts should expire for those making over $250,000 per year and entitlement programs should not be cut during the fiscal cliff negotiations.

Rep. Lee says, “No, we should not touch [entitlement programs]. First of all, for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, these are programs that people have worked for, these are programs also that address those who are low income and who are poor. I don’t believe that low income individuals and the most vulnerable and our seniors should be part of a deal. First of all, they’re just living on the edge, as we speak, anyway. And so why should they have to bare the brunt of the cuts when we’re talking about finding revenue to be able to really balance the budget, create a path toward deficit reduction and really reignite the American dream for everyone. So, I don’t believe that entitlement cuts that would affect the poor, and seniors and low income individuals should really be on the table.”

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