what republicans are doing to try to dismantle social security and medicare

Should Republicans vote to eliminate social security and Medicare?

But, the Republicans want a commission to cut Social Security and Medicare as the price for raising the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are working on a plan to raise the debt ceiling. They really should be voting to eliminate it altogether. Either way, Republicans will try to keep the Democrats from getting this done easily and swiftly.

Are Republicans'plotting to take away'Medicare and Medicaid?

Wyden said, "Republicans in Congress are plotting to take away Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security." Some key Republicans, including Ryan, have long argued in favor of overhauling entitlement programs such as these by reducing the amount of money spent on them.

Would ‘Republicans’ plan’ end Social Security?

Text in the video then states, “Republicans’ plan would make Social Security disappear,” warning that “nearly 70 million Americans would lose critical monthly payments.” The Democratic attacks have also found their way into political campaign ads. An ad from the DSCC says “Republicans’ plan” would “end Social Security” and “end Medicare.”

Is this a Republican game plan to destroy Social Security and Medicare?

Unnoticed by most was an additional provision, which is one part of the Republican game plan to destroy Social Security and Medicare.

What are the Republicans' obsessions with Medicare?

The Republican Obsession With Dismantling Social Security And Medicare. Today’s Republicans want to avoid political accountability by destroying Social Security and Medicare without leaving clear fingerprints. The Republicans are desperate to destroy Social Security and Medicare. These two programs demonstrate government at its best.

What are the two programs that Republicans want to destroy?

The Republicans are desperate to destroy Social Security and Medicare. These two programs demonstrate government at its best. The federal government runs these two extremely popular programs more efficiently, universally, securely, and effectively than the private sector does with its alternatives — or indeed could, ...

What was the first action that House Republicans took in the new Congress?

So obsessed are the Republicans in their desire to eliminate these effective government programs that the very first action that House Republicans took in the new Congress was to adopt a rules package that included a new rule that amounts to a stealth attack on Social Security and Medicare. Advertisement.

Why does Medicare not go through the appropriations process?

Social Security — the people’s pension — and Medicare — the first step toward universal health insurance for all — do not go through the appropriations process because, as monthly pension payments and medical insurance, they must pay what is owed, not what Congress chooses to spend. If Social Security and Medicare were subject to the whims ...

Should Democrats challenge Republicans?

Furthermore, Democrats should challenge Republicans when they claim the programs are in need of “saving.”. Republican claims that they are simply seeking to save Social Security and Medicare is the same Orwellian language used during the Vietnam War, when a military officer claimed that a village had to be destroyed in order to save it.

Do Medicare and Social Security need to be fixed?

The reality is that Social Security and Medicare don’t need fixing. They can and should be expanded, but they work fine, having stood the test of time. And, most assuredly, neither Social Security nor Medicare need saving.

Do Republican politicians want to destroy Medicare?

Republican politicians understand how popular Social Security and Medicare are. Yet they desperately want to destroy the programs, which put the lie to their anti-government agenda by illustrating clearly that there are some tasks that government does much better then the private sector.

When will Medicare become insolvent?

Experts say the cost of Medicare and Social Security will become insolvent within the next two decades. Medicare will become insolvent in 2026, according to the program’s trustees, and trust funds for Social Security will be depleted by 2034.

Who said cuts to entitlements are needed to tackle the deficit?

Stivers was echoing the sentiments of party leaders like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who argue that cuts to entitlements are needed to tackle the deficit. “Frankly, it’s the health care entitlements that are the big drivers of our debt.

How much was spent on Social Security in 2018?

In fiscal year 2018, nearly half ($1.95 trillion) of federal spending was directed toward the major entitlement programs: $977 billion was spent on Social Security, $585 billion on Medicare and $389 billion on Medicaid.

Who said the government has spent too much?

Instead of blaming the deficit on tax cuts, White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in September that the government has “spent too much” and that the White House would like to “slim that down as much as possible.”. “People are quick to blame deficits on tax cuts but I don’t buy that,” Kudlow said.

Who voted against Medicare?

When Medicare was first being considered Senate Republican Robert Dole (then in the House) voted against it. Also in opposition to Medicare, in a famous 1964 speech, Ronald Reagan explained that his opposition to Social Security and Medicare is why he switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

Which party is opposed to Social Security?

The Republican Party has always been associated with opposition to Social Security. Economic historian Max Skidmore shows that the final vote for Social Security was lopsided--only 2% of Democrats voted against it (because it wasn't generous enough) while 33% of Republicans voted against Social Security.

Why did McConnell say the Republicans would defend the tax cuts?

This poll was taken a week after Senator McConnell said the Republicans would defend the tax cuts and cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in order to curb the growing deficit, caused in significant part by those very tax cuts. The Republican Party has always been associated with opposition to Social Security.

What percentage of Americans would prefer to reverse the Republican tax cuts?

A poll one week before the election about Republican social and economic policy is a red flag for Republicans. 60% of Americans would prefer to reverse the Republican 2017 tax cuts than cut spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

What would happen if Social Security was passed?

A representative of the Illinois manufacturers testified that if Social Security was passed it would undermine America by “destroying initiative, discouraging thrift, and stifling individual responsibility.”. In 1935, Republican congressman John Taber said Social Security “is designed to prevent business recovery, to enslave workers, ...

Is Social Security a fiscal discipline?

Social Security is one of the few government programs with built-in fiscal discipline. Bottom Line: Though Senator McConnell may not have meant to publicize the Republican agenda to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the long history of Republican opposition may be an example of what Sigmund Freud and modern psychologists believe--a slip ...

Who is the highest ranking Republican in the Senate?

Not only is President Trump arguing with leading Republican Paul Ryan, about the Constitution, but the highest-ranking Republican in the Senate – Senator Mitch McConnell -- has called for cuts to Social Security.

When did Ryan say the House passed the biggest entitlement reform bill?

The release quotes Ryan at a subsequent press conference on March 20, 2018, saying, "The House passed the biggest entitlement reform bill Congress has ever considered last year, and regrettably the Senate did not follow suit. So we’re just going to have to keep at it on entitlements.".

Why didn't McConnell say entitlement reforms?

22, 2017, that he does not plan to bring up entitlement reforms in the current environment due to a lack of bipartisan agreement on the sensitive issue.

Is a cutback the same as elimination?

Cutbacks aren’t the same as elimination. However, none of the proposals being weighed by Republican lawmakers would eliminate the programs. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., does not share Ryan's zeal for taking up entitlement changes.

Did Wyden say Republicans are taking away Medicare?

Wyden said, "Republicans in Congress are plotting to take away Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.". Some key Republicans, including Ryan, have long argued in favor of overhauling entitlement programs such as these by reducing the amount of money spent on them. However, no Republican proposal has been made to "take away" any ...

How many people are receiving Social Security above the poverty line?

Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill have an understanding of the importance that Social Security plays in keeping some 22 million people currently receiving benefits above the federal poverty line.

How long has Social Security been borrowed?

However, the truth of the matter is that Congress has been able to "borrow" Social Security's excess cash (i.e., asset reserves) for five decades, and it's happened under every single president over that stretch.

Does means testing reduce Social Security?

Some Republicans, including Donald Trump, have called for a form of means-testing, which would reduce or eliminate Social Security benefit payments for those folks or couples who are wealthy.

Did the Republican Party steal Social Security money?

Another misconception is that the Republican Party stole money from the Social Security Trust and used it to fund wars. More specifically, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush have come under intense scrutiny for borrowing from Social Security and "not putting the money back."

Is Social Security inflection point?

According to the report, Social Security is facing an inflection point this year. For the first time since 1982, aggregate expenditures, which almost entirely includes benefits, but also takes into account administrative expenses and Railroad Retirement exchange contributions, will exceed revenue generated.

Is Social Security the most important social program?

Social Security is unquestionably the nation's most important social program, with more than three out of five current retired workers leaning on it to account for at least half of their monthly income. Yet, this crucial program is on shaky ground, with the latest annual report from the Social Security Board of Trustees painting a grim ...

Will Republicans take away Social Security?

Image source: Getty Images. 1. Republicans aren't going to take away Social Security. Without beating around the bush, the Republican Party is often associated as being the party of the well-to-do -- and the rich typically aren't reliant in any way on Social Security income.

Scott’s ’11-Point Plan’

Other Democratic Attacks

• On April 28, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee tweetedthat the “Senate Republicans’ plan would END” Social Security. The tweet includes a video that starts with an edited clip of Fox News anchor John Roberts asking Scott about his plan. “You recently put out an 11-point plan to rescue America,” Roberts said. “That would raise taxes on ha...

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Scott on Social Security, Medicare