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Trump, the GOP, and the very real politics of entitlements
This piece in POLITICO looks at the politics of Social Security and Medicare. Two camps seems to be developing in the GOP. One wants to deal with the reality that both problems will be financially insolvent in less than a decade. The other camp lead by former President Trump thinks it is better politics to ignore the issue and just seek senior votes, a “there’s nothing to see here” approach. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) of the Budget Committee said this of Trump’s rhetoric. “It got him elected the first time, and I think it will get him elected the second time. But it doesn’t do anything for our children and grandchildren that aren’t going to have a program that I’m enjoying right now.” Full piece here.
The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) believes Social Security must be preserved and modernized. This can be achieved with no tax increases by changing cost of living adjustments, the retirement age, and delayed credits. AMAC advocates for a bipartisan compromise, “The Social Security Guarantee Act,” taking selected portions of bills introduced by former Rep. Johnson (R-TX) and current Rep. Larson (D-CT) and merging them with the Association’s own research. One component is Social Security PLUS, a voluntary plan to allow all earners to have more income at retirement. This component is intended to appeal especially to younger workers. AMAC is resolute in its mission that Social Security be preserved and modernized and has gotten the attention of lawmakers in DC, meeting with a great many congressional offices and their staffs over the past several years. Read AMAC’s plan here.