From Kaisernetwork.org:
During a speech in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, President-elect Barack Obama said overhauling entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security will be “a central part” of his administration’s efforts to curb federal spending, the New York Times reports (Zeleny/Harwood, New York Times, 1/8). Obama said, “We are beginning consultations with members of Congress around how we expect to approach the deficit,” adding, “We expect that discussion around entitlements will be a part, a central part, of those plans” (Montgomery, Washington Post, 1/8). Obama said, “If we do nothing, then we will continue to see red ink as far as the eye can see,” and “at the same time, we have an economic situation that is dire, and we’re going to have to jump-start this economy with my economic recovery plan, creating three million jobs. That’s going to cost some money” (Weisman/Meckler, Wall Street Journal, 1/8). Obama said he plans to unveil more details about his approach to rein in entitlement spending when he releases his budget next month, the Times reports.