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Larson Rejects GOP Efforts to Cut Social Security and Medicare

April 12, 2018

Presents a Solution for Social Security

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Republicans attempted to pass a measure requiring devastating cuts to the middle class, seniors, Social Security, and Medicare having already passed a disastrous tax bill that gave tax relief to the wealthy and corporations. Larson opposed the measure and spoke out on the floor of the House of Representatives, the measure ultimately failed.

Click here to watch Larson's floor remarks prior to the vote.

"My Republican colleagues attempted today to take away the hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits that retirees have earned and paid for. They tried to do so by pushing a harmful budget resolution that would cut benefits in order to pay for their $2 trillion deficit-busting tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent," said Larson.

"This vote is designed to allow Republican Members to avoid responsibility for the fiscal disaster they have created and a backdoor attempt to fulfill their long-held desire to gut Social Security and Medicare. Their solution to fix Social Security is to cut it. The real travesty here is that there are solutions to responsibly fix Social Security – without slashing benefits or asking seniors to wait longer to receive the benefits they have earned and paid for their entire working lives. The solution is the Social Security 2100 Act, which both expands and enhances Social Security for generations to come without adding a penny to the deficit. It would also cut taxes for over 10 million seniors, adjust the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to ensure benefits keep up with the costs that seniors are incurring, and institute a new minimum benefit to ensure that no senior – and especially women – can retire into poverty after a lifetime of work. However, the Republicans won't give this solution a vote, let alone a hearing. I commend my colleagues for joining with me to defeat this harmful measure, and urge my Republican colleagues to instead take up the Social Security 2100 Act."

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that this resolution would cut Social Security by:

  • $325 billion in 2025
  • And a total of $2.6 trillion by 2028

The following organizations have written to Congress to urge defeat of this harmful resolution:

  • AARP
  • Center for Medicare Advocacy
  • National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare
  • Social Security Works
  • Medicare Rights Center
  • Strengthen Social Security Coalition
  • Leadership Council of Aging Organizations

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