Biden Calls Out Trump Plan to Defund Social Security During Final Presidential Debate

During Thursday night’s presidential debate, Vice President Biden hit President Trump over his promise to defund Social Security by eliminating the payroll tax and reminded the American people that Trump’s scheme would mean the end of all Social Security retirement benefits in 2023.

President Trump responded by repeating his baseless claim that Biden will “destroy” Social Security" while he would “never” cut Social Security.

In reality Donald Trump has spent 2020 telling the American public that he wants to cut Social Security. Most recently, he has proposed a plan to cut the payroll tax that funds the program. According to the Social Security actuary, if the Social Security payroll taxes were permanently terminated, the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund would no longer be able to pay benefits in 2021, and the Old Age and Survivors Trust Fund would follow in 2023.

“President Trump says Joe Biden will cut Social Security if elected and he is lying. He is using this as a way to get back the senior votes that he has lost, and we see right through it,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Joe Biden earned a 96% lifetime score in the Alliance’s Congressional voting record while serving as a Senator from Delaware. During his campaign, he has pledged to expand Social Security and Medicare benefits and will oppose raising the retirement age. 

“Joe Biden can absolutely be trusted to put seniors’ interests first and protect Social Security,” added Peters. “We have seen him do that in the past, and we have no doubt that he will continue to do so as President.”

NFL Players Association and the Alliance Join Forces to Remind Everyone to Vote

The Pennsylvania and Michigan Alliances each teamed up with local chapters of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Former Players to produce new Public Service Announcements (PSAs) encouraging older Americans to vote.

The Pennsylvania PSA features former Pittsburgh Steeler Robin Cole, vice president of the NFLPA Former Players Pittsburgh chapter and two-time Super Bowl champion; his wife Judith Cole; and Pennsylvania Alliance member Harriet Ellenberger. National Alliance Executive Director Richard Fiesta, a native of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, moderated their discussion. Since 2020 is the first year that Pennsylvania allows no-excuse early voting, the PSA outlines the new procedures and rules voters must follow when casting their vote by mail.

National Alliance President Robert Roach, Jr., former Detroit Lion Tim Walton, his daughter Tristyn Walton, and Michigan Alliance president Dick Long recorded the Michigan PSA. 

They encouraged anyone in Michigan who chooses to vote by mail to get their ballots to their local Board of Elections no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 3 in order to be counted.

“With the pandemic and record levels of turnout, it’s critical that everyone make a voting plan,” said President Roach. “There is too much at stake for retirees to sit this election out.”

Alliance Secures Voting Rights Victories in Pennsylvania, North Carolina

There were significant developments this week in voting rights lawsuits filed by the Pennsylvania and North Carolina Alliance chapters to ensure that older voters can cast a vote that will be counted during the pandemic.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican appeal to block Pennsylvania from counting mailed ballots which are postmarked by Election Day but received by November 6.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit then rejected a Republican appeal seeking to overturn the North Carolina Alliance's agreement with the state to make voting easier during the pandemic. The state court, the U.S. District Court and now the Fourth Circuit in a 12-3 decision all agree that ballots postmarked by Election Day and received up to nine days later will be counted.

“These are significant victories,” said Executive Director Fiesta. “However, the Trump campaign and the Republican Party are doing everything they can to stop all votes from being counted. From challenging common sense measures such as allowing the use of ballot drop boxes, counting mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, and disrupting Postal Service Operations, voting rights are under assault. We applaud seniors and all the voters who are determined to vote, but it’s clear that we will be in the fight for voting rights for years to come.”

Alliance Members Join Biden “What’s at Stake” Webinar to Tell What's at Stake for Social Security

On Thursday, the Seniors for Biden group hosted the final edition of their “What’s at Stake” series addressing the most important issues for seniors, and the Biden-Harris plan to help. This week’s roundtable focused on Social Security and featured special guests Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH), Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA), and emcee Kathy Greenlee, former Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services.

During the event Arizona Alliance member Ofelia Canez said that when she reached retirement age, her son experienced a traumatic brain injury, and the income she receives from her pension and Social Security are what allowed her to be able to tend to her son.

Wisconsin Alliance President Gary Mitchell, a lung transplant survivor, also spoke and said he would not have been able to afford housing, food and his medical co-pays without Social Security.

Voting is Now Underway in Every State

rules to account for the complications caused by the pandemic,” said President Roach. “Consequently, we are seeing record breaking numbers of votes being cast in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Go to vote.org to see which option in your state best suits your needs, and to double check voting deadlines and rules.”

States that kicked off early in-person voting this week were:

• Oct. 17 - Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico
• Oct. 19 - Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho and North Dakota
• Oct. 20 - Hawaii, Utah and Wisconsin
• Oct. 21 - West Virginia

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