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GOP on record for proposing cuts to entitlement programs

Dr. Rashad Richey National TV Political Analyst, Talk Radio Host, Univ. Prof.
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Republican lawmakers heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address after he accused some GOP members of wanting to target entitlement programs for spending cuts during debt ceiling negotiations. Biden seemed to be referring, in part, to a proposal introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) that would require Congress to renew Social Security and Medicare every five years. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy denied that cuts to the entitlement programs are on the table.

As Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey argues, some Republicans have suggested cuts to the programs in the past, including former President Donald Trump.

The Washington Post says, and I quote, “House Republicans have started to weigh a series of legislative proposals targeting Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs, part of a broader campaign to slash federal spending that could force the new majority to grapple with some of the most difficult and delicate issues in American politics.”

Huffington Post: “House Republicans are making it clear they intend to seek cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare with their new majority in the 118th Congress.” 

The list goes on and on but here’s the kicker. Biden should have at least been prepared to remind Marjorie Taylor Greene and the rest of the Republicans who acted baffled by this proclamation from Biden.

Former President Donald Trump. 2021. His budget proposed a net cut of $480 billion from Medicare and $24 billion from Social Security. In the 2020 budget proposal, it would have cut $575 billion from Medicare, $26 billion from Social Security. 

2019: He proposed cutting $554 billion for Medicare and $72.5 billion from SSDI and supplemental security income. 

What about the 2018 budget proposal? Well, that just eliminated $70 billion. That’s what they wanted. Right. Republicans are on record here for clearly proposing cuts, agreeing that it should be cut. And the fact that somehow they get to act as if that never happened is stunning. But you’re smarter than that. 

All right. I just gave you the facts.

Okay, let me go ahead and provide a basis of truth. 

Marjorie Taylor Greene and her cronies decided to heckle the President of the United States during his State of the Union speech where she called Biden a liar. And other Republicans joined in the booing of the current president. Now, the President, Joe Biden, did not have a fitting response, in my opinion. Now, this is where Democrats lose the argument of style. You see, the facts are actually on the side of Joe Biden. When Joe Biden said Republicans are presenting proposals to eliminate Social Security and Medicare, those are facts. I believe Joe Biden. Joe Biden says, well, he doesn’t want to reveal names, because he wants to be polite enough not to do so. 

First of all, if somebody is proposing, Mr. President, a cut to Social Security and Medicare, that person is antithetical to the progress of Americans, especially those who are now benefiting from the programs aforementioned. And why would they send a proposal to you? President Biden is an institutionalist. So on some level, there are lines he simply would not cross because he believes there is something sacred about the institution of the presidency. 

There is nothing sacred about that institution anymore. What sacredness was left, left with Donald Trump. The only thing sacred now are the voters who put you there. That is it. But I have provided some facts that, next time, President Biden or maybe other Democrats can echo when Republicans act as if they do not support cutting Social Security, and Medicare. It was Congressman Michael Waltz, who said and I, quote, I agree with Jim Jordan, that we are going to carve out woke policies out of the military. But if we really want to talk about the debt and spending, it’s the entitlement programs. 

What are the entitlement programs? Well, according to Republicans, Social Security, Medicare, are clumped into that category. There’s more. Bloomberg Government said, and I quote, a bipartisan negotiation on Social Security, Medicare would likely start with the Democrats pushing for more revenue while Republicans have a list of eligibility reforms. And we don’t like the tax increases, Arunta said. He said an increase in the eligibility age for both programs would be a common sense change. There’s more.  

NBC News. The Republican Study Committee, which is a committee, by the way, that represents the majority of House Republicans, a large group of House conservatives, proposed a budget in June that would incrementally raise the retirement age to collect social security based on changing lifespans and lower benefits. 

I got more. The Washington Post says, and I quote, House Republicans have started to weigh a series of legislative proposals targeting Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs, part of a broader campaign to slash federal spending that could force the new majority to grapple with some of the most difficult and delicate issues in American politics. 

Huffington Post. House Republicans are making it clear they intend to seek cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare with their new majority in the 118th Congress. The list goes on and on. 

But here’s the kicker. Biden should have at least been prepared to remind Marjorie Taylor Greene and the rest of the Republicans who acted baffled by this proclamation from Biden.

Former President Donald Trump. 2021. His budget proposed a net cut of $480 billion from Medicare and $24 billion from Social Security. In the 2020 budget proposal, it would have cut $575 billion from Medicare, $26 billion from Social Security. 

2019, he proposed cutting $554 billion for Medicare and $72. 5 billion from SSDI and supplemental security income. 

What about the 2018 budget proposal? Well, that just eliminated $70 billion. That’s what they wanted. Right. Republicans are on record here for clearly proposing cuts, agreeing that it should be cut. And the fact that somehow they get to act as if that never happened is stunning. But you’re smarter than that. 

All right. I just gave you the facts.

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