Tag: Kevin McCarthy

In an opinion piece for The Hill, Max Richtman, CEO of National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, writes about the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy’s likely intent to cut Social Security and Medicare, notwithstanding the slim margin by which Republicans took control of the House. Americans were not voting for representatives who would cut their earned benefits.

McCarthy had to make concessions to win the position of House Speaker. One of those was to commit to tying the lifting of the debt ceiling to cuts in federal spending. The Republicans have always wanted cuts to Medicare and Social Security.

Of course, President Biden can veto any legislation that slashes Medicare and Social Security. And the Democratic majority in the Senate is not likely to support these cuts in the first place. Still, Biden cannot allow the federal government to default on its financial obligations.

Congress must lift the debt ceiling.  Last time the Republicans held a Democratic administration hostage over lifting the debt ceiling, the Obama administration had to agree to limits on spending.

Already, Speaker McCarthy has established new rules for the House that makes it more difficult for Congress to pay for critical programs.

What might the House propose in the way of cuts under McCarthy’s leadership? For one, raising the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security. For two, making Medicare more expensive for people with annual incomes as low as $49,000.

The House could also slash Social Security benefits, if not not for current retirees, for future ones. This policy is designed to keep voters at bay. More than four in five Americans support expanding Social Security.  And, they want to pay for it through eliminating the cap on Social Security payroll contributions. They want wealthy Americans to contribute a more proportionate and fairer share of their income to Social Security relative to middle and lower-income Americans.

Thankfully, President Biden has promised not to  cut Social Security and Medicare. But, he will be under a lot of pressure to do so. We must all speak up and contact the White House and our representatives in Congress. We need to make sure they know voters want Medicare and Social Security expanded, not slashed.

Here’s more from Just Care:

• Senate Republicans introduce bill to undo Democrats’ prescription drug cost-cutting legislation
• Congress should eliminate the cap on Social Security contributions in 2023
• Six tips for keeping your drug costs down if you have Medicare
• Traditional Medicare v. Medicare Advantage? Different as night and day
• What are your Medicare premium and other costs in 2023?