Chopin’s Sonata #2

Democrats and Republicans are joining to oppose one of the most important features of President Obama’s new deficit reduction plan, a powerful independent board that could make sweeping cuts in the growth of Medicare spending.

There is a growing move to do away with the board and that move enjoys widespread support:

Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin and chairman of the House Budget Committee, called it “a rationing board” and said Congress should not “delegate Medicare decision-making to 15 people appointed by the president.” He said Mr. Obama’s proposal would allow the board to “impose more price controls and more limitations on providers, which will end up cutting services to seniors.”

Here is the article (1/20).   Here is Chopin’s Sonata #2.  On the brighter side, here are outlines of a budget deal under discussion.