In his most recent column, Economic Policy Institute President Lawrence Mishel demolishes arguments in favor of "chained" CPI, which is often offered in grand bargain negotiations, saying it is nothing more than a way to explain away cuts to the program.

The failing economy has caused wealth for black households to all but disappear, according to a shocking new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Since 1983, median wealth for black households fell by nearly two-thirds from $6,300 to $2,200 in 2009—a decrease of more than 65 percent.

The unemployment rate for young workers between ages 16 to 24 has skyrocketed as millions of young people have lost jobs and school enrollment has steadily increased over the past decade.