Republicans are doubling down on their threats to Social Security.

Hi,

Republicans are already making open threats to slash Social Security — or else tank the global economy by refusing to raise the debt limit and forcing the federal government into default.

John Thune, the second-highest-ranking Senate Republican, just announced that he won’t support raising the debt limit unless Social Security is cut by raising the retirement age.1 In the House, over two dozen Republicans are demanding cuts in Social Security or other programs in exchange for voting to lift the debt limit.2

Republicans are doubling down on their threats to hold the debt ceiling hostage to demand cuts to Social Security, so Democrats need to double down to defend it. That's why they must eliminate the debt ceiling ASAP, before they leave for the year.

Will you donate to Demand Progress Action to support our work, including pressuring Democrats in Congress to eliminate the debt ceiling before it’s too late?

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The debt ceiling is a meaningless formality. Raising it periodically just affirms that the U.S. government will pay for policies it has already passed. That’s why Republicans quietly raised the limit three times during Donald Trump’s presidency.3

But with Democrats controlling the White House and the Senate next year, the debt limit is among the few bargaining chips House Republicans hold. They can refuse to raise the ceiling unless their demands are met, just as they did under Obama.4

There’s no reason to believe this fight is going to go better for Democrats than it did in 2011. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed to go worse, and the millions of Americans who receive Social Security benefits will pay the price.

There’s no reason to put Social Security at risk and threaten worldwide economic shutdown. That’s why Congress must act now, while Democrats still control both chambers, to eliminate the debt ceiling once and for all.

Donate to support our work, including pressuring Congress to eliminate the debt ceiling and stop cruel cuts to Social Security and other programs.

With gratitude for all you do,

Tihi and the team at Demand Progress Action

Sources:
1. Yahoo!, "GOP’s Thune Sees Debt-Ceiling Hike as Vehicle for Budget Cuts," November 29, 2022.
2. CNN, "Kevin McCarthy faces debt-limit dilemma as House GOP ratchets up demands amid speaker bid," December 2022.
3. The Washington Post, "White House rules out concessions over debt ceiling while GOP refuses to help avert crisis," September 20, 2021.
4. Wikipedia, "United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011," accessed December 9, 2022.

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