"Cost-saving adjustments to Social Security and Medicare" on the table again?

[jsr]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/on-day-3-of-shutdown-focus-turns-to-debt-ceiling-deadline/2013/10/03/21f42abc-2c24-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html

GOP aides: Boehner tells colleagues he will avoid a default on federal debt
By Lori Montgomery and Ed O’Keefe, Updated: Thursday, October 3, 7:38 PM

Both sides agree that a potential deal could involve replacing deep budget cuts known as the sequester with cost-saving adjustments to Social Security and Medicare, such as using a less generous measure of inflation to calculate cost-of-living changes.

Both parties are willing to discuss an overhaul of the tax code, so long as the question of how to raise revenue is left open. Democrats say they would even consider changes to the health-care law, such as a repeal of the 2.3 percent tax on medical devices.

But Democrats — noting that they already have agreed to maintain the sequester cuts through mid-November — say they will not discuss a broader budget deal until Republicans agree to fund the government.

“We do need to sit down. I’m happy to talk to them,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.). “But the government has to open up first.”