ICYMI: Larson Joins The Rachel Maddow Show to Discuss Trump-Musk Plans to Slash and Privatize Social Security

“The Republicans continue to repeat, ‘and all that Elon Musk is after is fraud, abuse, and waste.’ Well, if he is, bring it before us because we’d like to hear it,” said Larson. “In fact, bring him before us so we get to see his plan. But the plan, unlike previous plans to privatize Social Security, is to scuttle the agencies themselves.  When Trump charges him with finding $2 trillion, everybody’s attention should go up when you look at the Social Security Trust Fund, which is $2.7 trillion. And so, he’s made no bones about it on Larry Kudlow or any other place that they’re going to privatize it. And then they deny that in front of the committee and won’t bring him in front of the Ways and Means Committee to face the public and to face the questions that Congress has.”    

You can view the full transcript below: 

Rep. Larson: Look at the empty seats here, where’s Elon Musk? If he’s so great, if these plans and all the fraud and abuse that he found are so imminent, why isn’t he here explaining it? You know why! Because he’s out to privatize Social Security! He’s been on television the last couple of days talking exactly about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and what he intends to do. Privatize it. The American people, some of them may have been born at night, but not last night.  

Rachel Maddow: They will teach that clip at Freshman orientation for new members of Congress, if there is any justice in the world. The moment when Connecticut Democratic Congressman John Larson pretty much burned down the barn over the issue of Social Security and what Trump and his top campaign donor are doing to it.  

Rachel Maddow: Congressman, thank you so much for joining us tonight. I really appreciate you taking the time.  

Rep. Larson: Glad to be with you Rachel and thank you for your voice.  

Rachel Maddow: Well, let me ask you about your voice. You gave a real clarion call in Congress last week. We highlighted that here on the show. I wanted to ask what you are hearing from constituents. I know you just had a town hall, and I know you got a lot of attention. 

Rep. Larson: Yeah I did just have – and the same thing there’s frustration across the country and the districts and most of the time it’s individuals saying, ‘Look we don’t hear enough from Congress,’ even though I assure you, and I think you know this, how hard everyone’s working, etc., but this particular proposal that they had was a resolution that actually started back in [1797] and was modified in 1879, which provides a check for the legislative branch on the executive branch. A Resolution of Inquiry requires that they take the bill up within 14 days, or the bill goes directly to the floor for a vote. So what the Republicans did was adjourn the Congress on Tuesday night, hold a meeting early, with little people there and clearly, as you saw from the clip, no Elon Musk and no head of the Social Security Administration, and the outrage here is: what they’re doing and the fact that they think Elon Musk is above the law and that he doesn't have to come before the United States Congress or the Ways and Means Committee. I think my Republican colleagues were embarrassed by this fact, but we’re going to keep it up. Rich Neal was in the papers again today calling for another, you know, motion of inquiry so that we get Elon Musk before the committee and demand answers for the American people.   

Rachel Maddow: What do you think they’re trying to do to Social Security? The changes that they are forcing through that they now say are going to start the last day of this month, seem like they are changes that are designed to cause chaos, designed to cause breakdown, and designed to screw up the basic functions of the agency. To what end? What do you think they’re doing?   

Rep. Larson: Well, I think you hit the nail on the head with the hammer there, Rachel, because that’s exactly what they’re doing. And here’s the goal: what they’re trying to do is say, in the committee, that Trump’s indicated that he’s not going to touch Social Security. And the Republicans continue to repeat, ‘and all that Elon Musk is after is fraud, abuse, and waste.’ Well, if he is, bring it before us because we’d like to hear it. In fact, bring him before us so we get to see his plan. But the plan, unlike previous plans to privatize Social Security, is to scuttle the agencies themselves. Social Security already is trimmed and has administrative operating costs of under 1%. There’s no other agency in the federal government that operates like that, or dare I say, in the private sector either. I’m from the insurance capital of the world, and administrative costs are 16 to 26%. So, what they’re up to is to scuttle the agency, make it appear that it’s not working and not answering people’s concerns, and then passing legislation that’s unpaid for, draining the Social Security Trust Fund. When Trump charges him with finding $2 trillion, everybody’s attention should go up when you look at the Social Security Trust Fund, which is $2.7 trillion. And so, he’s made no bones about it on Larry Kudlow or any other place that they’re going to privatize it. And then they deny that in front of the committee and won’t bring him in front of the Ways and Means Commitee to face the public and to face the questions that Congress has.   

 Rachel Maddow: Congressman John Larson, Democrat of Connecticut, please come back and talk to us about this. I know you’re not going to let it go. Thank you, sir.   

Rep. Larson: I look forward to it, Rachel. Thank you so much.