The Issue: Republican leadership is trying to dismantle one of the most popular and important government programs - Social Security.

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Since Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released his 11-point plan to “Rescue America” in May (which includes a proposal to end all federal legislation, including Social Security, after five years) the GOP has made it clear that it has set its sights on cutting Social Security benefits. 

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In June, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-FL) went on the record about Social Security, hinting that seniors should “take a little less” and “pay a little more in” to improve the solvency of Social Security. 

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In August, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said Social Security and Medicare should no longer be guaranteed benefits and, instead, should be classified as “discretionary spending,” up for renegotiation every year when Congress haggles over discretionary budget items. That would undermine the Social Security guarantee, causing enormous insecurity for millions of beneficiaries.

 

Vote for Democrats!  Vote for leaders who will protect your retirement. Democrats protect and support the expansion of Social Security benefits.

• Democratic policymakers are offering concrete proposals to revamp Social Security, putting several plans on the table. Where are the Republican plans?

• While Republicans are putting seniors’ hard-earned benefits on the chopping block, Democrats are taking on special interests, lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and continuing to protect Medicare with the Inflation Reduction Act. 

• Democrats, the party who created Social Security, have proposed measures to expand benefits and lift the earnings cap on payroll taxes to infuse new funding into the program. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and six of their colleagues introduced the Social Security Expansion Act. That legislation would increase benefits by $200 a month for current and future beneficiaries. It will update the minimum benefit, so no one will retire into poverty after a lifetime of work. It also updates the way the cost-of-living adjustment is calculated to make it more accurate - so important in this time of high inflation.

 

Background: 

• Social Security is one of America's most successful and longest running government programs, celebrating its 87th birthday this year.

• Social Security is trusted and relied upon by millions of Americans. Voters across the ideological spectrum support expanding Social Security benefits to help beneficiaries meet rising costs and ensure that seniors living on Social Security can retire in comfort and dignity.

• Social Security is an insurance plan that has helped millions and millions of Americans avoid poverty in old age, upon becoming disabled, or after the death of a family wage earner, providing a basic level of benefits for workers and their families that cannot be decimated by inflation and the unpredictable nature of the stock market. Benefits last a lifetime and are adjusted for inflation.

• Republicans don’t want to expand Social Security because it would impose taxes on Americans making more than $400,000 per year.

• Republican attacks on Social Security are in sharp contrast with public opinion. They are radically out of step with even their own voters. Recent polling from Data for Progress finds that voters overwhelmingly support Social Security. 

  • As polarized as Americans are over many issues, poll after poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans - Republicans, as well as Democrats and Independents - believe that Social Security is more important than ever. They strongly oppose any and all cuts. They want to see benefits expanded and they want the wealthiest to pay their fair share.

  • Data for Progress polling finds that a whopping 81 percent of voters, including 79 percent of Independents and 75 percent of Republicans, support Democratic legislation to expand Social Security benefits and protect beneficiaries against the rising cost of living. 

  • 76 percent of voters support imposing a payroll tax on Americans making more than $400,000 annually, including 88 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of Independents, and 65 percent of Republicans.