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Chris Christie says his Social Security plan hurts the rich, but it really hurts the poor
http://www.vox.com/2015/4/16/8422945/chris-christie-social-securityIn a speech delivered April 14 in New Hampshire, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie proposed a large across-the-board cut in Social Security benefits that would primarily target poor Americans. In a remarkable bit of political salesmanship, he also managed to get this covered in the press as primarily a proposal to reduce benefits for wealthy retirees.
The proposal is part of an effort by Christie, whose 2016 chances have dimmed considerably in recent years, to position himself as the Republican brave enough to take on the politically difficult fights the rest of his party won't. In recent years, congressional Republicans have decided to back off any cuts to Social Security — Rep. Paul Ryan's budget, for instance, simply punts on the issue altogether. But Christie is proposing real cuts here, even if he's obscuring whom they'll hurt most....
Although the retirement age section of Christie's proposal is both more quantitatively significant and targeted to especially inflict pain on the poor, Christie spent more time talking about the case for his smaller cuts on the rich. And he succeeded in framing much of the media conversation around this idea....
Again, it is true that Christie's plan has this feature. But the specific choice that generates the bulk of the savings is a broad cut in benefits that cuts proportionately more from the poor.
The proposal is part of an effort by Christie, whose 2016 chances have dimmed considerably in recent years, to position himself as the Republican brave enough to take on the politically difficult fights the rest of his party won't. In recent years, congressional Republicans have decided to back off any cuts to Social Security — Rep. Paul Ryan's budget, for instance, simply punts on the issue altogether. But Christie is proposing real cuts here, even if he's obscuring whom they'll hurt most....
Although the retirement age section of Christie's proposal is both more quantitatively significant and targeted to especially inflict pain on the poor, Christie spent more time talking about the case for his smaller cuts on the rich. And he succeeded in framing much of the media conversation around this idea....
Again, it is true that Christie's plan has this feature. But the specific choice that generates the bulk of the savings is a broad cut in benefits that cuts proportionately more from the poor.
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