U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is assuring seniors that Social Security cuts are not a viable option for the congressional deficit reduction supercommittee, and says a tax hike for higher income earners needs to be part of the solution.

Several seniors speaking Monday on a telephone conference call arranged by the senator's office urged Baucus to push for the tax increase on the wealthy.

Baucus has said that some sort of tax revenue increase is needed, along with budget cuts. Nonpartisan analysts have told the supercommittee that large spending cuts would impact popular government benefits.

Others on the call urged Baucus to help speed up approval for an oil pipeline running through eastern Montana to spur the economy, and to pull troops out of overseas wars to save money.

Associated Press

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