John,

The Trump administration has already bungled the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, as we reckon with the economic fallout, the Trump administration is proposing to provide economic stimulus by threatening our Social Security system. The so-called “payroll tax cut” is both a stealth attack on Social Security, and ineffective economic stimulus. We need our representatives in Congress to know that.

There are ways to put money into the pockets of those most impacted by the coronavirus such as providing direct payments to working families or finally providing paid sick leave or paid family leave to all working people.

If you’re an hourly worker sent home due to coronavirus, you’re not getting paid. A payroll tax cut won’t help you. President Obama passed a 2-year payroll tax cut in 2011, and studies show that most people didn’t even notice. There’s no economic justification for this cut―which means this proposal is just another part of Trump’s attack on our earned benefits.

Write to your members of Congress and tell them to reject a payroll tax cut in response to the coronavirus.

We can’t allow Trump and Republicans in Congress to undermine Social Security and Medicare in response to the coronavirus.

In fact, yesterday’s stock market crash is a perfect example of why we need to EXPAND Social Security. Too many Americans already believe that their Social Security contributions have been stolen. Using these dedicated contributions instead for economic stimulus would show that their elected officials indeed do not respect the fire wall between those contributions that are held in trust.

Congress could vote as early as this week on an economic stimulus package to help working people through this tough time. Write to your members of Congress today and tell them that a payroll tax cut won’t help working families.

This is moving quickly and we must act fast. Thank you for taking action today.

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works