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Mr Bowles, front, said he and Mr Simpson were not asking for a vote on their proposals
A panel set up to generate plans for trimming the US budget deficit has proposed a series of tough measures including cutting Social Security rises and raising the retirement age to 69.
The commission, set up by President Barack Obama, set out $200bn (£125bn) in potential cuts aimed at reducing the $1tr US budget deficit.
The draft report suggests slashing public health and defence spending.
Its contents are unlikely to progress to Congress for debate, analysts say.
The plan, put forward by Chairman Erskine Bowles, a former White House aide to Bill Clinton, and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson, comes a week after Republicans pledging to cut spending took control of the US House of Representatives in the mid-term elections.
The two were among the first to acknowledge their plan's unpopularity. But analysts say the plan illustrates the hard choices ahead if the US intends to balance the budget.
"We'll both be in a witness protection program when this is all over, so look us up," Mr Simpson said.
Mr Bowles said: "We're not asking anybody to vote for this plan. This is a starting point."
The proposals include cuts to Social Security and Medicare, a government-sponsored healthcare programme for the elderly, and tax increases, including a rise in the petrol tax.
Among other likely sticking points is a proposal to raise the retirement age to 68 by 2050 and 69 in 2079, with an exemption for those unable to work past 62.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Bowles, front, said he and Mr Simpson were not asking for a vote on their proposals A panel set up to generate plans for trimming the US budget deficit has proposed a series of tough measures including cutting Social Security rises and raising the retirement age to 69.
The commission, set up by President Barack Obama, set out $200bn (£125bn) in potential cuts aimed at reducing the $1tr US budget deficit.
The draft report suggests slashing public health and defence spending.
Its contents are unlikely to progress to Congress for debate, analysts say.
The plan, put forward by Chairman Erskine Bowles, a former White House aide to Bill Clinton, and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson, comes a week after Republicans pledging to cut spending took control of the US House of Representatives in the mid-term elections.
The two were among the first to acknowledge their plan's unpopularity. But analysts say the plan illustrates the hard choices ahead if the US intends to balance the budget.
"We'll both be in a witness protection program when this is all over, so look us up," Mr Simpson said.
Mr Bowles said: "We're not asking anybody to vote for this plan. This is a starting point."
The proposals include cuts to Social Security and Medicare, a government-sponsored healthcare programme for the elderly, and tax increases, including a rise in the petrol tax.
Among other likely sticking points is a proposal to raise the retirement age to 68 by 2050 and 69 in 2079, with an exemption for those unable to work past 62.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.