Republicans accused Biden of wanting to cut Social Security. But the president noted that several of them supported such cuts.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday called. out Republican lawmakers who he accused of seeking. cuts to Social Security and Medicare in his State of the Union address. many of whom expressed support for the cuts.
“My Republican friends, they seemed shocked when I brought up some of their members. and their caucus plans to cut Social Security, and Marjorie Taylor. and others stood up and said, ‘Liars, liars,'” Biden said in remarks on the economy. An event in DeForest, Wis.
Biden then Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. hinted at a plan last year. when he chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “I’ve got his brochure here,” said Biden, who held it up and read from it, “All federal laws sunset every five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again.”
That would apply, the president said. To programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Biden also noted how Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. Said that Congress should review such programs annually. During Johnson’s competitive re-election run last year. He said at a campaign stop that Social Security was “set up unfairly.” And that the money would have been better invested in the stock market. Johnson also said on a radio show that Social Security and Medicare should be eliminated. As “mandatory” programs and subject to “discretionary” spending, meaning. Congress would have to renew them annually or they would end.
“There’s a senator named Mike Lee, who last night yelled ‘liar, liar, fire fire’ type of thing.” Biden said, referring to a recently released 2010 video in which. The Utah Republican said that was his intention. . Phase out Social Security.
“They sure didn’t like me calling them,” Biden said. “Look, a lot of Republicans, their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare. Well, let me just say this. It’s your dream, but I’m going to turn it into a nightmare with my veto pen.”
During his speech Tuesday night, Biden said. That “some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset every five years.” As Republicans in the crowd began to boo, he went off script and fired back: “As we all obviously agree. Social Security and Medicare are now off the books.”
On Wednesday, Biden said the exchange effectively boxed Republicans into a deal. “It looks like we negotiated a deal on the floor of the House of Representatives last night,” Biden said.
“Every one of you has been paying into the system since you started working.” “These benefits are yours, the American worker. You earn them, and I won’t let anyone cut them — not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”
Biden said in an interview Wednesday that he surprised. Some GOP people the night before by mocking him. Adding that “most Republicans weren’t that way.” But you know, there’s still a significant element of what I call MAGA Republicans. You know, America Great Again Republicans — and I kind of expected [that],” Biden told PBS NewsHour.
Responding Wednesday to Biden’s State of the Union address. Scott said in a statement that Biden misunderstood. His proposal to sunset all federal laws within five years. “This is clearly and obviously an idea aimed at dealing with. All the crazy new laws that our Congress has passed of late. Joe Biden is confused … to suggest that this means I want to cut Social Security. Or Medicare is a lie, and it’s a Dishonest move by a very confused President.
But the GOP has repeatedly cut entitlement programs.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. For example, proposed turning Medicare into a voucher system. When he chaired the House Budget Committee and created the budget blueprint in 2012 and 2013. It was a plan supported by many Republicans at the time
Most recently, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., last year. reintroduced legislation that he and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. Unveiled in 2019 that would have allowed parents to use a part. of their Social Security benefits for up to three months. Parental leave granted after the birth or adoption of a child. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank. Said that under such a system, “parents who choose parental. leave would face permanent cuts to their Social Security retirement benefits.“
Last year, the Republican Study Committee. A large group of House conservatives, also proposed a budget. That would incrementally raise the retirement age to collect Social Security. based on changes in lifespan, and lower benefits over the long term using a new formula.
