On Social Security’s 87th Birthday, Progressives Warn GOP Wants to ‘Take a Chainsaw to It’

Advocates and progressive lawmakers on Sunday celebrated the 87th birthday of Social Security—one of the most popular and successful federal programs in U.S. history—and warned that its modest benefits remain under serious threat as Republicans openly signal their desire to gut the New Deal mainstay, a move that would hurl millions into poverty.

For months, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) has been urging the Democratic leadership to bring a Social Security expansion bill to the floor, force GOP lawmakers onto the record, and advance a key legislative priority. The CPC warned Sunday that the program is currently “under attack from Republicans” and that Social Security Disability Insurance “isn’t keeping up with rising costs.”

Moreover, this year, millionaires stopped contributing to Social Security on February 24 thanks to the payroll tax cap.

In June, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led the introduction of a measure that would expand Social Security’s average yearly benefits by $2,400 and guarantee the program is fully funded for the next seven and a half decades.

By contrast, former President Donald Trump—a likely 2024 candidate—has said he wants to “terminate” the payroll tax, a step that would kill the funding mechanism for Social Security and Medicare.

Earlier this month, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)—who will face progressive challenger Mandela Barnes in November—argued for converting Social Security and Medicare into “discretionary” programs, opening the door to cuts.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released a plan earlier this year that would sunset all federal programs—including Social Security and Medicare—every five years unless Congress explicitly votes to reauthorize them.

“That would undermine the Social Security guarantee, causing enormous insecurity for millions of beneficiaries,” notes Nancy Altman, the president of Social Security Works. “It would offer Social Security’s opponents in Congress enormous leverage to make draconian cuts even when they are not in control, thanks to the non-constitutional requirement of 60 votes in the Senate for nearly everything.”

GOP congressional candidates have also voiced a willingness to target Social Security. Blake Masters, the far-right Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Arizona, said in June that “maybe we should privatize Social Security,” an unpopular position with U.S. voters.

Originally published at Commondreams.org.