[h=3]By SARAH PORTLOCK[/h] WASHINGTON—U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said Sunday that he is open to future Social Security changes that go beyond what the White House is proposing for entitlement programs as part of negotiations to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.
But he said any changes to Social Security shouldn't be part of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, the combination of spending cuts and tax increases that start in early January unless Washington acts.
"What the president is willing to do is to work with Democrats and Republicans to strengthen Social Security for future generations," Mr. Geithner said on ABC News's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," according to a transcript. "But we think you have to do that in a separate process so that our seniors don't face the concern that we're somehow going find savings in Social Security benefits to help reduce the other deficits," he added.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in October. Mr. Geithner said Sunday that any changes to Social Security shouldn't be part of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
Mr. Geithner is the White House's lead negotiator in the deficit-reduction talks with Congress as the parties work to avoid the spending cuts and tax increases.
Interviews with Mr. Geithner are scheduled to appear on five Sunday morning political talk shows, including "This Week" and CNN's "State of the Union." Three days earlier, Mr. Geithner presented congressional leaders with a White House proposal that is culled from its 2012 budget and includes $1.6 trillion in tax increases and $50 billion in economic stimulus, plus $400 billion in savings from safety-net cuts.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday the offer was "laughable" and "almost comical."
Mr. McConnell said he wants changes to safety-net programs that could include higher Medicare premiums for higher earners, an increase to the Medicare eligibility age and a slowing of cost-of-living increases for programs such as Social Security. He suggested that if Democrats agreed, both sides could move closer to a budget deal and avoid going over the fiscal cliff.
President Barack Obama is ready to meet face to face with Mr. McConnell, but only "when it makes sense," Mr. Geithner said on "This Week."
It is up to Republicans to make the next move, Mr. Geithner told Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union," according to a transcript.
"Right now, the best thing to do is for them to come to us and say, 'Look, here's what we think makes sense,' " Mr. Geithner said. "We've told them what we think makes sense. What we can't do is try to figure out what's going to be good for them. They have to come tell us."
But, he added, "We can't wait very long."
But he said any changes to Social Security shouldn't be part of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, the combination of spending cuts and tax increases that start in early January unless Washington acts.
"What the president is willing to do is to work with Democrats and Republicans to strengthen Social Security for future generations," Mr. Geithner said on ABC News's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," according to a transcript. "But we think you have to do that in a separate process so that our seniors don't face the concern that we're somehow going find savings in Social Security benefits to help reduce the other deficits," he added.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in October. Mr. Geithner said Sunday that any changes to Social Security shouldn't be part of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
Mr. Geithner is the White House's lead negotiator in the deficit-reduction talks with Congress as the parties work to avoid the spending cuts and tax increases.
Interviews with Mr. Geithner are scheduled to appear on five Sunday morning political talk shows, including "This Week" and CNN's "State of the Union." Three days earlier, Mr. Geithner presented congressional leaders with a White House proposal that is culled from its 2012 budget and includes $1.6 trillion in tax increases and $50 billion in economic stimulus, plus $400 billion in savings from safety-net cuts.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday the offer was "laughable" and "almost comical."
Mr. McConnell said he wants changes to safety-net programs that could include higher Medicare premiums for higher earners, an increase to the Medicare eligibility age and a slowing of cost-of-living increases for programs such as Social Security. He suggested that if Democrats agreed, both sides could move closer to a budget deal and avoid going over the fiscal cliff.
President Barack Obama is ready to meet face to face with Mr. McConnell, but only "when it makes sense," Mr. Geithner said on "This Week."
It is up to Republicans to make the next move, Mr. Geithner told Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union," according to a transcript.
"Right now, the best thing to do is for them to come to us and say, 'Look, here's what we think makes sense,' " Mr. Geithner said. "We've told them what we think makes sense. What we can't do is try to figure out what's going to be good for them. They have to come tell us."
But, he added, "We can't wait very long."