Inside The Fiscal Responsibility Summit

Campaign for America's Future co-director Roger Hickey discusses his participation at the Fiscal Responsibility Summit February 23 at the White House. Hickey was among a number of progressive leaders who were included in the summit, which discussed the country's long-term budget deficit and the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Hickey says he was heartened by the Obama administration's focus on health care as the core of the country's deficit problem. But he said he is particularly concerned about an effort backed by fiscal conservatives in both parties to have a commission craft a long-term plan for Social Security and Medicare solvency that would receive an up-or-down vote in Congress. The commission, advocated by Pete Peterson and supported by such conservatives as Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., who was offered a cabinet post by Obama, would bypass the normal process of congressional debate and citizen input. Hickey warns that progressives will have to stay on guard to keep the Obama administration focused on health care reform and away from an undemocratic "commission" on Social Security and Medicare.