Official: Obama’s budget proposes cuts to Social Security in attempt to compromise with GOP

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is proposing cuts to Social Security as an attempt to compromise with Republicans on the budget.

A senior administration official says the budget Obama will offer to Congress next Wednesday would reduce the deficit by $1.8 trillion over 10 years. It includes a revised inflation adjustment called “chained CPI” that would curb cost-of-living increases in Social Security and other benefit programs.

The senior administration official stressed it is not the president’s preferred approach but a compromise proposal to try to reach a long-term budget deal. Obama first made the offer to House Speaker John Boehner last year.

The official spoke on a condition of anonymity since the budget has yet to be released. Technically, the administration actually would be limiting the growth of Social Security.