John,

Usually, when you talk to Republican politicians about their plans for Social Security, they launch into a rehearsed speech about “making serious choices.” It’s a poll-tested response that obscures the fact that the “serious choices” that they’re talking about are cutting benefits for working people so that millionaires and billionaires don’t have to pay their fair share. They leave out the clear fact that most Republican politicians want you to work 'til you die.

Social Security Works went to the House of Representatives to press Republicans about their real plans for Social Security, and Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) gave a remarkably candid answer. Watch it here:

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Rep. Allen claims that his constituents come up to him and say that they actually want to work more, so we should raise the retirement age.

Rep. Allen is personally worth more than $52 million―so he may not spend much time with the people who are on their feet all day. People like nurses, construction workers, and others who have physically demanding jobs are probably not coming up to Rick Allen and begging to work longer.

Every year that the retirement age is raised amounts to a 7% cut to Social Security benefits.¹ Even a Republican as candid as Allen knows better than to come out and declare a plan to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits by 7% or more.

Here’s what this is really about: Rep. Allen serves on the Republican Study Committee, which releases a budget every year that cuts Social Security and Medicare to the bone. The RSC, along with the Freedom Caucus, are driving the Republican plan to hold the debt ceiling hostage in order to force Social Security cuts―even though Social Security cannot by law contribute to the deficit.

Our video of Rep. Allen has already been viewed more than 1 million times, and was retweeted by DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. We are having an impact! Donate $7 to protect Social Security and Medicare!

Social Security Works has hit the ground running in 2023. House Republicans are putting together an “emergency plan” to distract the media if we go over the debt ceiling―but the emergency is entirely of their own creation. Social Security and Medicare have nothing to do with it―but Republicans believe that they can deliver for their Wall Street paymasters while forcing Democrats to take the blame.

We won’t be fooled.

Together, we’re going to save Social Security and Medicare from Republican hostage-takers.

Thanks,

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works

P.S. Our petition demanding a clean debt limit increase has already gotten nearly 50,000 signatures. If you haven’t signed yet, add your name here!

¹ https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2022/10/26/what-does-it-mean-to-increase-the-social-security-retirement-age/

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