JustCare

Tag: Republican

  • House Republicans call for major cuts to Social Security and Medicare

    House Republicans call for major cuts to Social Security and Medicare

    Former President Trump does not want to admit that he supports major cuts to Social Security and Medicare, even though he has said so. He has backed off those comments. But, Republicans in the House of Republicans are underscoring their desire for major cuts to Social Security and Medicare, report Brett Arends for MarketWatch and Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling for TNR.

    The proposed 2025 Republican budget from the Republican Study Committee in the House of Representatives calls for slashing $2.7 trillion from Social Security and Medicare over the next ten years. And, that’s not all. The House Republicans want to raise the age of retirement, which could mean delaying Medicare and Social Security benefits or, at the very least, reductions to those benefits.  

    To be clear, nothing is clear about the Republican plan other than a desire to cut taxes and spend less on Medicare and Social Security. Republicans see no need to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

    A recent Gallup poll found that 61 percent of Americans support raising taxes to “ensure Social Security’s long-term future” as compared to 31 percent who support curbing “the amount of benefits for future Social Security recipients.”  Arends notes that the percentage of Americans who favor raising taxes to strengthen Social Security has grown significantly over the last 15 years.

    Republicans in Congress appear to care little that the majority of Americans, including Republican voters, want to strengthen Social Security through tax increases. They do not want to cut Social Security. However, the Republican Study Committee does attempt to stave off any hostility from people receiving Medicare and Social Security today; their proposal does not affect these Americans.

    If they could, Republicans would turn Medicare into Medicare Advantage exclusively and likely cut back on payments to Medicare Advantage plans, driving up costs for older adults and people with disabilities, particularly those who need costly care.

    While the Republican Study Committee might not be helping former president Trump by speaking out for Medicare and Social Security cuts, I give the Republicans credit for not hesitating to speak their mind. The Republicans know it’s a long game to achieve these cuts and that’s the hand they are playing.

    Here’s more from Just Care:

  • Poll: Health care costs are a top economic priority for voters

    Poll: Health care costs are a top economic priority for voters

    As you’ve likely been reading, voters continue to have negative views about the US economy. High health care costs (and inflation, which is actually in check) feed into that view, with voters saying they are big concerns. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest poll finds that voters want to hear President Biden and former President Trump discuss these issues.

    Americans believe that their cost of living, including housing, is rising; health care costs also represent a piece of that expense. They do not seem to consider that unemployment is low and the stock market has been climbing. Almost three in four Americans are concerned about paying unexpected medical bills; more than half are worried that they won’t be able to afford their prescription drugs and nearly half express concern about paying their health insurance premiums.

    What’s particularly noteworthy is that even though former President Trump would likely cut some of the benefits voters enjoy and President Biden has worked hard to boost them, nine in ten Republicans say they would vote for former President Trump. Curiously, Republican voters believe that former President Trump did more to address high health care costs than President Biden, although not enough. Nearly six in ten Republicans (59 percent) say Trump did enough to address health care costs, whereas only one third (33 percent) of Democrats say Biden has done enough.

    Voters who say they support Trump recognize that he does not have a vision for replacing the Affordable Care Act, only for ending it. But, they don’t appreciate that President Biden was the Vice President when the ACA was passed and played a significant role in its passage.

    The ACA is not well understood, likely because only a fraction of the population benefits from it today. Most people don’t appreciate the protections it offers people who lose their employer coverage or who are self-employed, particularly those who have pre-existing conditions, and why it needs to be strengthened. Many Republicans suggest they would be happy to see it cut or repealed.

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  • Republicans support “backroom scheme” to cut Social Security and Medicare

    Republicans support “backroom scheme” to cut Social Security and Medicare

    Jake Johnson reports for Common Dreams on the Republican push in Congress for a “Fiscal Commission” and the Democratic pushback against it. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden correctly calls the proposed Commission a “backroom scheme” to cut Medicare and Social Security.

    The House Budget Committee’s Fiscal Commission Act, which Republicans intend to link to a must-pass government funding bill, would allow Congress to cut “Americans’ earned benefits” behind closed doors, said Senator Wyden.

    Senator Wyden and the overwhelming majority of Democrats oppose the Commission. Wyden argues that Congress should be raising taxes to strengthen Medicare and Social Security: “Instead of trying to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Republicans should work with Democrats to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share, which would go a long way towards securing Social Security and Medicare long into the future.” Go, Wyden! (If only Senator Wyden would speak as fervently against the tens of billions in overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, which is endangering Medicare as well.)

    The question now is whether the Democrat-led Senate will allow he Fiscal Commission Act to become law. If so, the Commission, a  16-person  panel, made up of members of Congress from the House and Senate and private sector influentials, would develop and vote on Medicare and Social Security policies that Congress would consider passing into law, with no amendments permitted.

    It’s no secret that Republicans want to privatize both Social Security and Medicare and cut spending, leaving older adults and people with disabilities at even greater financial and health risk than they already are. Republicans have no intention of enacting legislation that would raise revenue to strengthen these programs and never have. Indeed, Republican members voted against a change to the Fiscal Commission legislation that included this language concerning the work of the Fiscal Commission: It “shall propose recommendations to strengthen and secure Social Security” by “protecting Social Security benefits” and requiring the wealthy to contribute more to the program.

    Republicans also rejected the following proposed language about the role of the Fiscal Commission: It “shall propose recommendations to strengthen and secure Medicare” by “protecting the traditional Medicare program” and extending its solvency by “requiring taxpayers with incomes above $400,000 to contribute more” and closing a loophole that allows rich business owners to avoid Medicare taxes.

    It’s also no secret that Trump, if reelected, stands with these Republicans in Congress. “Donald Trump can’t hide from his own words: He told the American people four years ago that he would cut Social Security and Medicare if he ever got a second term in office, and has only doubled down on his pledge to gut these critical programs since then. After proposing disastrous cuts to Social Security and Medicare in every single one of his budgets as president, Trump is still running on the same out-of-touch plans that would threaten the pocketbooks of America’s seniors,” said Alex Floyd of the DNC.

    Republicans believe we spend too much money on Medicare and Social Security. But, they are not speaking out against the massive Medicare Advantage overpayments. Moreover, Social Security and Medicare Part A–hospital insurance–are self-funded. And, both Medicare and Social Security offer critical supports to the most vulnerable Americans. Without them, our government will endanger the lives of millions of our parents and grandparents.

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  • Social Security turns 88 today; it’s time to expand its benefits

    Social Security turns 88 today; it’s time to expand its benefits

    On August 14th, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law. Eighty-eight years later, our Social Security system is among the most successful and popular government programs in history. Nearly every worker pays premiums (Federal Insurance Contributions or FICA) for Social Security. In return, workers receive insurance benefits when they retire, become disabled, or lose a family breadwinner. Social Security is secure, efficient, and the most important source of retirement income for the vast majority of Americans. Social Security does have one major flaw, though: Benefits are too low.

    The average Social Security benefit is only $1700 a month — considerably lower than in peer nations. That is not enough for working families to enjoy a secure retirement or make ends meet when tragedy strikes in the form of serious and permanent disabilities or death. It’s not surprising that our nation is facing a retirement income crisis. Too many Americans fear that they must work until they die, because they will not be able to retire without a drastic decline in their standard of living. Expanding Social Security is the solution.

    Social Security Works was founded to fight the fearmongering about our Social Security system. Today is Social Security’s 88th birthday. 

    The good news is that Democrats have plans to expand our Social Security system. President Joe Biden ran on a promise to expand Social Security, and Congressional Democrats have introduced multiple bills to do so. One of these is the Social Security 2100 Act, which is sponsored by Rep. John Larson (D-CT) and co-sponsored by over 175 of his fellow House Democrats. Another is the Social Security Expansion Act, which is sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

    These bills, as well as numerous other expansion proposals, have much in common. They would keep Social Security strong for generations to come (averting the modest shortfall that some politicians have used as an excuse to demand benefit cuts). They would increase benefits for everyone, with additional targeted increases for low-income beneficiaries, family caregivers, the very old, and others. Additionally, they would update the annual cost-of-living adjustment to reflect the real expenses beneficiaries face and prevent benefits from eroding.

    These are common sense proposals that enjoy broad support from Americans across the political spectrum. Indeed, 83 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of independents, and 73 percent of Republicans want to expand Social Security and pay for it by making the wealthy contribute their fair share. Yet, not a single Republican member of Congress is signed on to a bill expanding Social Security benefits.

    We’ve gotten Republicans on the record―and helped defeat them when the public learns the truth.

    The truth is, Republicans in Congress support cutting Social Security and ultimately ending the program as we know it. This is laid out in the budget proposal from the Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group that counts about 70 percent of House Republicans as members.

    The RSC budget would raise the retirement age to 69, which is mathematically equivalent to a 13 percent benefit cut. It would also decimate middle-class benefits — benefits those workers have earned and paid for. The Republican goal is to turn Social Security into a flat, poverty-level benefit — so that it loses political support and can be destroyed.

    Nor is the RSC budget the only Republican plan to cut Social Security. Every major Republican Presidential candidate, including Donald Trump, is on the record supporting Social Security cuts. Republican politicians are ignoring the will of their voters in favor of protecting their wealthy donors.

    Republicans have also been waging a quiet war on the Social Security Administration (SSA), the agency that administers the program. Since 2010, largely-Republican controlled Congresses have slashed SSA’s budget by 17 percent — even as the number of beneficiaries grew by 22 percent. This has forced the agency to lay off thousands of workers, close field offices, and reduce hours.

    SSA needs adequate funding, and strong leadership. President Biden has nominated former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley to serve as SSA Commissioner. Biden has also requested a ten percent increase in funding for SSA. The best 88th birthday gifts Congress could give Social Security are to swiftly confirm O’Malley and grant Biden’s funding request.

    Then, Congress should take up legislation to expand Social Security. If Republicans refuse, Democrats should make Social Security a major issue in next year’s election — and urge voters to support the party that is working to expand, instead of cut, their earned benefits.

    Social Security is the cornerstone for our nation’s economic stability. Together, we can build on that cornerstone and bring prosperity to everyone in this country!

    Here’s more from Just Care:

  • Dems launch attack ads against Senators Cruz and Scott for proposing to take away Medicare

    Dems launch attack ads against Senators Cruz and Scott for proposing to take away Medicare

    Axios reports that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has launched attack ads against Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Senator Rick Scott of Florida for planning to take away Medicare. Cruz and Scott are the two Republican Senators whose seats are at risk in the 2024 election. And, when it comes to Medicare and Social Security, they can’t be trusted.

    Both Scott and Cruz have called for the end of Medicare in one form or another, as have most Republicans. For a long while, one of their goals has been to privatize Medicare and allocate a fixed amount of money to each person with Medicare that they can spend on their health care, “premium support”. Premium support policies would mean higher costs for older adults and less comprehensive Medicare coverage. People with Medicare who developed costly or complex conditions would likely either have to forgo care or pay for it themselves.

    The Democrats’ digital ads are designed to appeal to older Americans and call out Senators Cruz and Scott for being a “threat to Medicare.” The ads also attack Republicans more broadly for their positions on Medicare.

    Senator Scott has called for federal legislation that would have Medicare and Social Security go away after five years. In his words, “All federal legislation sunsets in five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress could pass it again.” Given how difficult it is to pass any legislation in Congress, Scott’s policy proposal is a sure recipe to end Medicare and Social Security.

    It’s worth noting that Medicare Advantage plans already put Medicare on a dangerous trajectory, both from a sustainability perspective and from a coverage perspective. The HHS Office of the Inspector General has now twice reported that Medicare Advantage plans often inappropriately delay and deny care that Traditional Medicare would have covered. And countless agencies and organizations have found overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans are today more than $70 billion a year and growing, endangering the Medicare Trust Fund.

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  • Republicans could hurt their prospects for controlling the Senate if they support cuts to Medicare and Social Security

    Republicans could hurt their prospects for controlling the Senate if they support cuts to Medicare and Social Security

    Ivana Saric reports for Axios that Republicans could be hurting their ability to take control of the US Senate in 2024 because of their stands on Medicare and Social Security. House Republicans’ support for major spending cuts of Medicare, Social Security and other benefits, are not popular with voters.

    There’s plenty of evidence from past Congressional races that voters tend to vote against candidates who seek to cut Social Security and Medicare.

    Still, Republicans in the House have obligated themselves to a balanced budget over the next decade. Since they won’t raise taxes, and they don’t seem to want to eliminate waste in Medicare Advantage or to permit Medicare to negotiate drug prices, it seems inevitable that Social Security and Medicare will be on the chopping block. Of course, they are saying that they won’t cut these programs.

    The Republicans can’t win on Medicare and Social Security, with a Democratic majority in the Senate and a Democratic President. So, it would be wise for them to hold off proposing Medicare and Social Security cuts for the moment. Instead, the Republicans might propose cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, which are less politically toxic. Though, the public is not with them on cuts to the Affordable Care Act.

    Where are the battles? The Democrats will face competitive races in Ohio, Arizona along with 18 other seats. In West Virginia, Joe Manchin’s seat is on the line. In Montana, Jon Tester’s seat is on the line.

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  • Advocates launch pledge campaign to protect Social Security and Medicare

    Advocates launch pledge campaign to protect Social Security and Medicare

    Social Security Works, More Perfect Union, Indivisible, MoveOn, and many other prominent organizations have launched a campaign demanding that members of Congress pledge to protect Social Security and Medicare. This campaign is a response to Congressional Republican leadership initiatives signaling that Republicans will fail to support a lifting of the debt ceiling without Congress cutting Social Security and Medicare.

    The advocates want all of our Congressional representatives to commit to never cutting Social Security and Medicare. As it is, Social Security pays for all of its costs through payroll contributions. It does not consume a penny from the treasury. It needs strengthening in a manner that is fair and continues to pay for itself.  Congress should support Congressman Larson’s Social Security 2100 Act, which would lift the cap on Social Security contributions so everyone paid in throughout the course of the year.

    Medicare pays for part of its costs through payroll contributions and the rest through the general treasury. Medicare is critical for the health and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities. Congress cannot cut benefits or raise costs in Medicare without keeping more people with Medicare from getting needed care, driving some into disability and others to premature death.

    That all said, those members of Congress who want to address waste and fraud need only look to the tens of billions of dollars in past excess payments and hundreds of billions of dollars in future excess payments to Medicare Advantage plans, as a result of the current payment system. Those overpayments are well documented and easy to recoup without repercussions on the health and well–being of people with Medicare. In fact, recouping those overpayments would bring down Medicare Part B premiums and strengthen the Medicare Trust Fund.

    Every member of Congress should follow President Biden’s lead in committing to no cuts to Social Security and Medicare and sign the DontCutSocialSecurity.org pledge. You can click on the website to see which members of Congress have signed and which are not signing.

    “Democrats were elected on the promise that they would defend Social Security against Republican attacks. Now is the moment of the truth. Democrats must refuse to cut Social Security. And they must refuse to create a mechanism — such as a closed door commission — to cut Social Security down the road.” – Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works

    “We can’t let dogmatic Republicans hold the most crucial government program protecting those who need it most hostage. It is critical for the Democrats to stay united and stand their ground against this latest effort to gut social security and medicare.” – Faiz Shakir, Executive Editor at More Perfect Union

    Americans, regardless of party affiliation, overwhelmingly support protecting Social Security and are opposed to program cuts. The same is true of Medicare. Social Security and Medicare are national treasures. Lifting the debt ceiling should not be conditioned on cuts to these invaluable earned benefits.

    Here’s more from Just Care:

  • Senate Republicans introduce bill to undo Democrats’ prescription drug cost-cutting legislation

    Senate Republicans introduce bill to undo Democrats’ prescription drug cost-cutting legislation

    Congressional Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will lower health care costs for people with Medicare, capping their out-of-pocket drug costs and allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for some of the highest cost brand-name drugs, among other things. Oliver Willis reports for the American Independent that Senate Republicans have introduced a bill to undo the drug price negotiation provision in the IRA, apparently valuing Pharma’s financial interests over the health and well-being of their constituents.

    Senator James Lankford, Oklahoma, Marco Rubio, Florida, Mike Lee, Utah, and Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming, want to stop Medicare from negotiating prescription drug prices. The Protecting Drug Innovation Act argues against “price controls.” Its sponsors seemingly fail to appreciate that the Inflation Reduction Act requires drug price negotiation; moreover, people with Medicare today currently are subject to price controls because pharmaceutical manufacturers effectively hold monopoly pricing power as a result of the patent protections the government gives them.

    The Republican Senators also curiously argue that their goal is to not shorten lives, even though drug price negotiation is designed to make drugs affordable in order to enrich and extend lives. Every other wealthy country negotiates drug prices on behalf of their residents, and all of them have populations with longer life expectancies than the US.

    The three Republican sponsors of the bill are all up for reelection next month. Given that voters have as a top policy priority reining in health care costs, these Senators’ opposition to lower drug costs should lose them votes. Four in five voters support Medicare drug price negotiation, and nearly seven in ten Republicans support it. By one estimate, drug price negotiation will save a couple with Medicare more than $2,400 a year.

    Republican policymakers also do not support strengthening and expanding Social Security benefits, another policy the vast majority of Americans support.

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