“Republicans are threatening to tank the economy and destroy millions of jobs unless Congress slashes Medicare and Social Security. Either outcome will make life worse and raise costs for millions and millions of Americans.” [1] –Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden
John,
As the U.S. reached its borrowing limit this week, the showdown over defending Social Security, Medicare and other critical services from Republican cuts is heating up.
House Republicans have said that they plan to block increasing the U.S. debt limit unless major cuts are made to critical services benefiting working families, including Social Security and Medicare.[2]
Write to your members of Congress and demand a clean debt ceiling increase without cuts to our earned benefits!
The debt limit (or debt ceiling) states how much the U.S. government can borrow to pay its existing bills—not future spending. Periodically, Congress must pass a law to raise it or suspend it—otherwise the government will default on its obligations, which many experts say would set off a global financial crisis.
If the debt ceiling is not raised, the federal government would not be able to pay the bills it has already committed to—meaning that millions of Social Security payments wouldn’t be made on time, millions of Americans on food assistance would see their benefits suspended, and U.S. military and civilian employees wouldn’t get paid.[3]
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, “We will not be doing any negotiation over the debt ceiling.”[4] But, according to the Washington Post, Republicans are already preparing for a default on our country’s debts:
Tell Congress to stop threatening the U.S. and global economy over demands to cut Social Security and Medicare. Click here to send a message today!
Together, we are fighting back against MAGA hostage takers who are putting a far-right ideology to cut Social Security, Medicare and other critical services over the needs of the American people.
Frank Clemente
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] Wyden Statement on the Debt Limit, U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Jan. 19, 2023
[2] “Speaker Drama Raises New Fears on Debt Limit,” The New York Times, Jan. 7, 2023
[3] “What happens if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling? What you need to know about the showdown between Democrats and Republicans,” CBS News, Sept. 22, 2021
[4] “White House Warns GOP Not to Tie Debt Ceiling to Social Security Cuts,” Truthout, Jan. 17, 2023
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