Republicans' rendezvous with reality -- their plan is to cut Social Security

[riversedge]

By Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), Opinion Contributor — 08/02/19 10:05 AM EDT


Republicans' rendezvous with reality — their plan is to cut Social Security


https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/455912-republicans-rendezvous-with-reality-their-plan-is-to-cut-social



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Let’s be real. Social Security benefits will be cut by 20 percent in 2035 unless Congress acts, according to Social Security Chief Actuary Steve Goss. The Social Security 2100 Act, co-sponsored by 210 Members of the House of Representatives, not only prevents those devastating cuts but also expands benefits across the board, improves the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and cuts taxes for millions of workers. Last week, House Ways and Means Committee ranking members Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) criticized the Social Security 2100 Act, claiming it is too expensive. They also declared that they would like to work with Democrats on a long-term solution to Social Security. However, for the eight years the Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress, they did nothing to address the looming 20 percent across-the-board benefits cut in 2035. For those eight years, not only did they never work with us, but they would not even hold a hearing on legislative proposals to improve Social Security’s solvency. The hard truth of the matter is that Republicans want to cut Social Security, and doing nothing achieves their goal.

With 10,000 baby boomers becoming eligible for Social Security every day, we must act now. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) laid it out very well during last week’s Ways and Means Committee hearing: To make Social Security sustainably solvent, we can either raise revenue (as the Social Security 2100 Act does gradually over time in a commonsense way) or cut benefits.

Poll after poll shows that Americans are willing to pay a little bit more for proposals such as the Social Security 2100 Act in order to strengthen Social Security. This has BIPARTISAN support among Americans. The problem is Republicans in Congress are ideologically opposed and have taken a pledge not to raise revenue. This is not where the American people are!

The Social Security 2100 Act provides a solution to strengthen and protect Social Security moving forward into the next century. The Act enhances benefits, adjusts the COLA to reflect seniors’ needs, cuts taxes for almost 12 million seniors and ensures no one who has worked their whole life will retire into poverty.

Further, it’s paid for in a commonsense way that strengthens Social Security, making it solvent beyond 75 years. This is the solution working people need because doing nothing is not an option. It’s a de facto plan for automatic cuts!................................

[sharedvalues]

1. $2 TRILLION tax cut for billionaires

$2 TRILLION tax cut for billionaires put on a credit card, and Republicans are planning for YOU to pay it back. They think we are suckers.

[wasupaloopa]

2. Vote them out. That is the solution to repub obstruction.

[Snarkoleptic]

3. House Budget Committee Dems have been sounding the alarm on this for a while.

And George Carlin nailed it as well...

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Scumbags...only interested in the ultra rich and they proved it by passing the 2017 tax cut and ...

jobs (supposedly) bill. 83% of the tax cuts went to the 1%.

And, Social Security is already paid for by all of our SS taxes. PAID for.

Why haven't they strengthen and protected our SS?

Why have they given $2 to $4 trillion in tax cuts to the 1%? They claim that this would result in tons of new investments and new jobs.

Where are these new investments and new jobs? WHERE?