Obama to Stand by Social Security

Reducing deficits will be a theme of President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, but he will not call to cut spending with Social Security cuts or a raise in the retirement age. Liberals cheered the news and are hoping to draw a contrast with Rep. Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican chosen to respond to Obama’s address who has advocated deep cuts in Social Security. Raising the retirement age was a suggestion in Obama’s bipartisian deficit commission’s plan; he’ll urge Congress to adopt some of the panel’s other recommendations.