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John,
The Washington Post just reported:[1]
“Trump payroll tax cut proposal” means eliminating Social Security and Medicare’s dedicated funding. It goes hand-in-hand with Mitt Romney’s TRUST Act to create a doomsday scenario for our Social Security system.
Together, we’ve stopped Trump’s scheme to defund and destroy Social Security every time he’s pushed it this year. With extended unemployment benefits running out at the end of the month, he’s found a ready hostage. We can stop this again―but only with your help. Pitch in $7 today!
As economic stimulus, Trump’s approach makes no sense. Payroll tax cuts deliver the most money to the wealthy and powerful while providing nothing to those who need it most, such as the millions about to lose their COVID unemployment benefits.
Washington politicians love to make accessing benefits complicated. That’s why Social Security is so popular: it’s simple and universal. Instead of creating an intricate scenario of qualified unemployment benefits and tax cuts that weaken Social Security, we should just give everyone money to stay home and suppress the virus.
Remember: Eliminating Social Security’s dedicated revenue is a trap for the Biden administration. Trump has already indicated that he’d like to defund Social Security permanently.[2] If this so-called “payroll tax cut” expires at the end of the year, it will set up a confrontation in the first days of the new Democratic presidency, where Republicans will claim Biden wants to raise taxes by 12%, just by returning things to normal!
In that dangerous scenario, the corporate media could seek some middle ground where Social Security funding is restored, but not at its full levels, which would weaken Social Security’s financing long-term. That sets the stage for the TRUST Act’s advocates to cut our benefits behind closed doors without accountability.
We’ve been sounding the alarm about this dangerous combination―and Congress is listening! Rep. Derek Kilmer disavowed the TRUST Act after meeting with us, and others are preparing to follow suit. We need to keep the pressure on Congress to protect Social Security in the face of Trump and Republican attacks! Chip in $7 today!
The coronavirus pandemic is raging across America, worse than ever. Essential workers are in desperate need of tests and personal protective equipment. Millions of Americans are at risk of eviction. Over 57,000 nursing home residents and workers are dead. Hospitals are in danger of becoming overwhelmed.
Donald Trump is doing nothing to address any of this. Instead, he’s holding Congressional relief hostage for a right-wing ideological wish list.
Congress must not give into Trump’s hostage-taking. Every Senator and Representative needs to call Trump’s bluff and work together to quickly send a COVID relief bill to Trump’s desk—without including any cuts to Social Security’s dedicated revenue.
Chip in $7 to fight back against Trump’s plot to defund and destroy Social Security.
Thanks,
Michael Phelan
Social Security Works
1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/07/16/payroll-tax-cut-trump-coronavirus/
2 https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/trump-mulls-permanent-payroll-tax-rate-coronavirus
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