Hints of progress emerge from 'super committee' deliberations

A top GOP House lawmaker hopes the deficit-cutting panel will focus entirely on health care costs to reach the $1.2 trillion savings target. Meanwhile, in the background, the Wall Street Journal reports that nearly half of all U.S. households receive government benefits, with about 34% getting means-tested assistance such as Medicaid.

Reuters: U.S. Deficit-Cutting Panel Cites Progress in Talks
There were hints of progress on Wednesday from U.S. lawmakers serving on a special deficit-reduction panel who are searching for at least $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade. If Republicans were to open the door to revenue increases, Democrats, according to sources, would begin negotiating savings in major benefit programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs for the elderly, poor and disabled (10/5).

Politico: Denny Rehberg: Health Law Cuts A 'Super' Idea
A top House Republican says he has an idea for how the super committee can reach its entire $1.2 trillion savings goal with two simple cuts from the health care reform law. Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana, chairman of the House Appropriations Labor-Health and Human Services subcommittee, is proposing cutting the law's Medicaid expansion and subsidies to help consumers buy insurance (Haberkorn, 10/6).

The Wall Street Journal: Real Time Economics Blog: Nearly Half Of U.S. Lives In Household Receiving Government Benefit
Means-tested programs, designed to help the needy, accounted for the largest share of recipients last year. Some 34.2% of Americans lived in a household that received benefits such as food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare or Medicaid (the federal-state health care program for the poor). Another 14.5% lived in homes where someone was on Medicare (the health care program for the elderly). Nearly 16% lived in households receiving Social Security (Murray, 10/5).