Ron DeSantis on Social Security - AMAC & Business Insider
“Talking about making changes for people in their 30s or their 40s so that the program is viable, that’s a much different thing, and that’s something that I think there’s going to need to be discussions on. We got to make sure we preserve it for our seniors, because they depend on it.” That’s the Ron DeSantis view of Social Security, as the Florida governor waded into a policy discussion on America’s most popular but financially troubled social insurance program. This Business Insider article captures some of the GOP field’s comments on Social Security, noting of course that it is one of the largest line items in the entire federal budget. The authors explain the insolvency that will mean benefit cuts for all in about ten years or less. The article also notes House Republicans recently released legislation on their proposals to fund government agencies, and it included a $183 million cut to the Social Security Administration. Many feel that will drive up wait times and reduce services. Full article here.
The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) believes Social Security must be preserved and modernized. This can be achieved without tax increases by slight modifications to cost of living adjustments and payments to the highest income beneficiaries plus gradually increasing the full (but not early) retirement age. AMAC advocates for an increase in the threshold where benefits are taxed and then indexing for inflation, and calls for eliminating the reduction in people’s benefits for those choosing to work before full retirement age. AMAC is resolute in its mission that Social Security be preserved for current and successive generations and has gotten the attention of lawmakers in D.C., meeting with many congressional offices and staff over the past decade.