GOP AGAIN holding Social Security and Medicare hostage to debt ceiling debate, threatening cuts.

[CousinIT]

ORIGINAL TWITTER THREAD:

Link to tweet

UNROLLED Twitter thread:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1422236581952376839.html


REFERENCES:
https://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/romneys-trust-act-is-back-again/

https://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/social-security-shouldnt-be-dragged-into-debt-limit-debate/

Lindsay Graham (GQP SC) is now using the looming debt ceiling debate as an opportunity to demand the creation of special committees to “reform” Social Security and Medicare. Of course, “reform” is just a code word for “cut.” (1)

Instead of passing legislation that prevents a government shutdown and enables our government to pay for the spending that Congress has already approved, “entitlement reformers” like @LindseyGrahamSC and others want to once again resurrect the dreaded (2)

“TRUST Act” and use it to exact severe cuts to your earned benefits in exchange for allowing our government to fulfill its financial obligations. (3)

Lindsay Graham along with Mitch McConnell now appear willing to risk a default on our government’s financial obligations which would among many other disastrous consequences result in Social Security benefit checks being delayed for weeks, or possibly longer. (4)

This is not an acceptable outcome for older Americans who depend on their earned benefits just to make ends meet! (5)

The TRUST Act purports to protect federal trust funds, including Social Security and Medicare. But it would actually open the door to cutting both programs. The TRUST Act is supported by Republican members of the House and Senate and a handful of Democrats. (6)

The bill would establish ‘Rescue Committees’ in Congress to draft legislation affecting the Social Security and Medicare – and fast track it for floor votes without going through the normal deliberative process. (7)

For example, members would not be able to offer amendments to legislation that comes out of the ‘Rescue Committees.’ It leaves the skeleton of the legislative process in place, but nowhere along the line can you make changes or improvements. (8)

Given that fiscal hawks in Congress want to cut Americans’ earned benefits under the guise of protecting or “reforming” Social Security and Medicare, the TRUST Act is dangerous. It would open the door to slash both programs. (9)

Today’s seniors rely on their earned benefits to stay healthy and stay out of poverty. Research indicates that tomorrow’s retirees will rely on these programs even more. The last thing American workers need is to have their future benefits threatened. (10)

If anything, they should be expanded. While it’s true that the Social Security and Medicare Part A trust funds will become depleted in 2035 and 2026 respectively if Congress takes no action, there are commonsense solutions that do not involve cutting benefits. (11)

But, too often, “entitlement reformers” use the canard that “no one in Washington has the courage” to address Social Security and Medicare’s financial challenges, which simply is not true! (12)

Rep. John Larson introduced the Social Security 2100 Act, which would extend the life of the trust fund, partly by asking the wealthy to begin contributing their fair share of Social Security payroll taxes. (13)

The TRUST Act does not require its “rescue committees” to consider the adequacy of current benefits — or the human impact of potential cuts. Retirees would be relegated to the status of figures on a balance sheet. (14)

This is not an acceptable outcome for our parents, grandparents, and friends who depend on their earned benefits. Other members of Congress have also offered their own solutions that do not ask future seniors to withstand benefit cuts. (15)

Bottom line: CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE ARE NOT NECESSARY to preserve these vital insurance programs for future generations. Social Security and Medicare should not be used as pawns in debt ceiling games either. @LeaderMcConnell @LindseyGrahamSC (16)

One of the things we should always check when deciding who gets our vote in elections, is whether the candidate supports Social Security & Medicare. Also verify that the candidate will NEVER support any cuts to these lifesaving insurance programs. (end).

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Seniors who vote Republican will go for this.

Cutting off their noses to spite their faces because they are AGAINST social democratic programs like Social Security and Medicare. But yet draw it anyway.

[TheRealNorth]

3. There will be a carve out

To exclude "adults over 55" or something like that.

[Celerity]

4. so if you are not a Boomer or older, then it's 'I got mine, fuck you'?

Sounds like a real winner to churn out the younger vote.

[TheRealNorth]

7. It generally works

Even in unions, a lot of young workers have gotten screwed by the older workers protecting their pensions at the expense of the younger workers.

I think the last time Republicans suggested reforming SSN, they were going to carve out exceptions for older Americans.

It works because a lot of young Americans are not paying attention and/or don't vote. Until that changes, they will continue to get shafted (especially if the Republicans are in charge).

[Celerity]

8. I thought you were implying a bi-partisan agreement, where enough

Dems went along with the cutout. That would doom the Dems.

Sub boomers have voted in larger absolute numbers than Boomers and above starting in 2016 (and increasing each election), and we vote far more for Dems than Rethugs.

If the Dems shaft us (I was born in 1996) like this hypothetical, it will be disastrous, especially if there also is a complete refusal of the 10K USD per person student debt reduction (forget the 50K USD, that is never going to happen for a long time) that Biden campaigned on and promised so many times.

Not everyone under 55 (and especially under 40) is like me, who sees the big picture threat. Hell, many over 55 do not. If enough Dems actually did tip that cutoff over the line and it becomes law, dog help us all.

[GoodRaisin]

5. Their orange hero lied to them about that

telling them he would protect their Social Security and Medicare. The seniors are for these programs so they might not like it if they learn about it. Of course if they don’t turn off Fox News and watch something else they might not know.

[Andy823]

2. Need some TV ads

letting the public know that the GOP want's to cut SS and Medicare. Keep the ads running from now till GOP folds, and make sure those same ads are out next year for the elections!

[abqtommy]

6. Besides the fact that it's LINDSEY Graham (and LINDSAY Lohan), it's way past time for all

the worthless reTHUGS to be in jail where they'll have a much harder times screwing the rest of us over.