democrats. not something supported by arp but in pursuit of strengthening social security for the long term, i'm willing to make those decisions. >> the fact of the matter is, had the white house decided to withhold chain cpi from the budget not being serious would come fast and furious from republicans and taken hold and those in the white house where they have opportunity to deal. the president has been out in the public defending the idea as changing the cpi as a budget tool. why back off now? the only way the president's budget was going to be relevant coming two months late and after the house and senate already passed theirs was to use it as an attempt to start negotiation. that's what the white house calculated. the administration is making one caveat very clear. white house officials quoted in "new york times" quoting the following. the things like cpi that republican leaders have pushed hard for will only be accepted if congressional republicans are willing to do more on revenues. revenues is code for taxes. president's budget offer