Deadline nears for U.S. debt reduction plan

Deadline nears for U.S. debt reduction plan

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U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Friday he wants to protect entitlement programs during negotiations that would reduce federal spending. Those programs include Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

A Congressional supercommittee is trying to agree on a deficit reduction package of at least $1.2 trillion over a decade.

Durbin said both parties will have to make some concessions to protect entitlement programs.

“We need it for our economy because of all the unemployed people, we need it because of the global problems in other countries but we need it as well for Congress, it’s time for us to step up work together both political parties to solve our problems,” Durbin said.

The Congressional supercommittee is scheduled to reach an agreement on reducing federal spending by Nov. 23rd.