The public unveiling of an extremely controversial proposal involving the budget deficit is scheduled for release on Wednesday. The new plan, constructed by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, is a revised draft of the plan proposed earlier this month, that also resulted in great controversy. Changes to the second draft include higher domestic cuts than the original version, as well as a decrease in the health care savings from overhauling the medical malpractice system. Unlike the original proposal, the revised version does not call for a cap on medical malpractice awards, but instead recommends a change in how awards are made (Andrew and Kuhnhenn). .
The proposals that did not change from the original draft include a gradual increase in the Social Security retirement age to 68 by 2050 and 69 by 2075. The cost-of-living for the programs will decrease, and the cap on income subject to Social security taxes will increase. The plan also calls for an increase in the price of gasoline by fifteen cents per gallon. The federal worker pay will be frozen for three years, and 200,000 workers will lose their federal jobs through attrition if the proposal is passed (Andrew and Kuhnhenn).
However, the plan is sure to face great opposition from the deficit commission board, which holds eighteen members. A fourteen vote bipartisan supermajority is needed to pass the bill, and the votes will most likely fall way short of this number (Andrew and Kuhnhenn). Only Bowles and Simpson are guaranteed to support the plan, although support could come from nonelected deficit hawks who won't have to defend themselves to voters, such as Democrat Alice Rivlin. Bowles told reporters, "I don't know if we're going to get two votes or five votes or 10 votes or 14 votes. There are enough reasons to vote .
