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John,
Senate rules are weird.
The process for reconciliation, the procedure through which a bill can bypass the filibuster and pass with a simple majority, includes a step called a ‘vote-a-rama’, which allows any Senator to introduce a bill or resolution and get a quick vote on it. Often, these votes are done in the middle of the night. This makes them opportunities to slip bad bills into must-pass legislative packages.
In February, when the Senate debated the American Rescue Plan, Mitt Romney slipped a non-binding resolution based on his Social Security-cutting TRUST Act into the vote-a-rama, and it passed 71-29!
Fortunately, that resolution was merely a signal of support, and did not have the force of law. But Romney could use the next vote-a-rama to enact the real thing.
Social Security Works is making sure that every member of Congress knows that a vote for the TRUST Act is a vote to cut Social Security. Donate $7 today!
Bernie Sanders issued a clear warning before the vote in February as to what Sen. Romney’s amendment meant:
I regretfully oppose this amendment because I fear at the end of the day, what will happen is that we will be cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and impacting some of the most vulnerable people in this country.
The TRUST Act sets up a fast-tracked, closed door process to allow Congress to force cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Of course, Mitt and his fellow TRUST Act supporters don’t frame it that way―they say it’s about “bipartisan deficit reduction.” And make no mistake: The TRUST Act has much in common with the Obama-era deficit scaremongering that Social Security Works was founded to fight.
The idea that the TRUST Act signals deficit reduction is an absurd notion, because Social Security doesn’t contribute a single penny to the deficit―it’s independently funded by contributions that working Americans make with every paycheck. But just because something isn’t true doesn’t mean that Republicans won’t use it as an excuse to cut our earned benefits.
We’re going to stop them. Chip in $7 now to fight back against Mitt Romney’s TRUST Act and ensure that we EXPAND Social Security benefits, never cut them.
Thanks,
Michael Phelan
Social Security Works
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