Rand Paul To Force Senate Vote On Potential Cuts To Social Security, Medicare

[Franklin Pierce]

Conservative Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he will force the Senate to vote this week on cutting total federal spending by 5 percent in each of the next two years, a proposal that would include Social Security and Medicare.

It’s an uncomfortable vote for Senate Republicans, one which it divides their conference.

Talking about cuts to Social Security has been called the third rail of politics.

A “no” vote opens GOP senators to criticism from conservatives who say that policymakers who exempt Social Security from reform are not serious about balancing the budget.

A “yes” vote risks alienating seniors and other voters who are worried about seeing their Social Security and Medicare benefits cut.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate...n-potential-cuts-to-social-security-medicare/

 

[TNVOLNAVY]

Conservative Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he will force the Senate to vote this week on cutting total federal spending by 5 percent in each of the next two years, a proposal that would include Social Security and Medicare.

It’s an uncomfortable vote for Senate Republicans, one which it divides their conference.

Talking about cuts to Social Security has been called the third rail of politics.

A “no” vote opens GOP senators to criticism from conservatives who say that policymakers who exempt Social Security from reform are not serious about balancing the budget.

A “yes” vote risks alienating seniors and other voters who are worried about seeing their Social Security and Medicare benefits cut.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate...n-potential-cuts-to-social-security-medicare/

If someone relies solely on SS or Medicare they’re already screwed.

 

[McDad]

This is an example of why Rand Paul is a mirage.

Excerpts from OP article:

....After an initial version of this story was published, a spokesperson for Paul clarified that Social Security would be exempted.
“He was referring to on-budget spending, which excludes Social Security. His Penny Plan has never touched Social Security and it’s not allowed under the budget rules,” said Kelsey Cooper, referring to a past budget resolution sponsored by Paul to cut spending. “His Penny Plan has also never specified cuts to Medicare or any other program — it only gives topline numbers.”

....Asked whether he would reach his target of an annual 5 percent annual cut to all federal spending “by going through entitlements,” Paul responded: “We get there by putting a top line number of what it would take for the entire budget.”
Paul’s proposal is expected to pick up only around 20 votes, because many Senate Republicans don’t want to their favorite programs, in particular defense spending, to face steep cuts.

....He argued that mandatory spending programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are the biggest drivers of the debt.
“Mandatory spending is enormous. It’s over half of the spending every year; it’s going up at 5 percent a year,” Paul said.

....Paul’s proposal is expected to pick up only around 20 votes, because many Senate Republicans don’t want to their favorite programs, in particular defense spending, to face steep cuts.

 

[LouderVol]

My understanding is that cutting SS at least wouldn't benefit the general debt. SS is currently not drawing from the general fund, but its own trust. So cutting 5% from it does not reduce the debt, because that saved SS money CAN'T go back to the general fund to pay for non-SS. Now cutting 5% from SS may keep it solvent for longer and keep it out of the General Fund for longer, so may be needed anyway.

Medicare/caid have their own trusts as well, but they have been over budget for a long time, so they do draw from the General fund already, and would need to be cut back to help with the overall debt.
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58268
4 trillion in Revenue in 2021
1.1 Trillion for SS (its own pot)
another 1.1 trillion for Medicare & Medicaid. (its own pot plus general funds)
another half a trillion for Covid & "recovery", and pay check protection (thanks Trump) (general funds)
and about another 300 billion in unemployment. (general funds)
and there is another 1.1 trillion of other "mandatory" spending that are retirement plans (including vets), and some other welfare programs. (general funds)

we spend about 4.1 Trillion in welfare in this country. thats more than our entire budget just spent on welfare. for the people who say we should be doing more I ask how?

and all of that is before any of the discretionary money spent on Defense and other "Department of" programs.

we do have to cut everything. everything.

4 trillion coming in, 6.8 going out.