Toledo Blade
Sen. Portman to introduce proposals to cut U.S. deficit
By Tom Troy 

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) said Wednesday he plans to introduce a couple of amendments that will push Congress and the administration to take action to reduce the size of the federal budget in return for increasing the long-term debt limit. 

Meanwhile, a group of about 25 people saying they represent workers and the elderly demonstrated Wednesday outside the Social Security Administration office at 4906 Monroe St., one of several public events organized by the AFL-CIO labor federation, to pressure Congress to eliminate tax loopholes that benefit the wealthy and to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from cuts. 

Mr. Portman said his first amendment would require a $1 cut in spending for every $1 increase in the long-term debt ceiling. He said over time his amendment would bring spending down to about 20 percent of gross domestic product, which is close to the 50-year average, instead of the 24 percent it is now… 

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