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Senate Democrats are pushing legislation that would impact Social Security, contradicting their previous accusations against President-elect Donald Trump regarding cuts to the program.
The Social Security Fairness Act, currently advancing through Congress, seeks to modify benefits for public sector workers. According to The Committee for a Responsible Budget, this legislation would accelerate Social Security’s insolvency timeline by six months while extending increased benefits to 3 million public sector pension recipients.
I’ve got good news for Louisiana teachers, police officers, firefighters, and public servants: You’re about to get more of the retirement benefits that you earned.
After years of work, we just sent the Social Security Fairness Act to be signed into law. pic.twitter.com/gCraKQjpr8— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) December 21, 2024
“As a result, we estimate a typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033 would see their benefits cut by an additional $25,000 over their lifetime,” the CRFB reports.
The organization warns that couples could lose up to $400,000 in benefits if Social Security depletes under this legislation. The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill’s cost at $190 billion over ten years.
Following House approval, Senator Chuck Schumer leads the Senate push while Senator Rand Paul advocates for an amendment raising retirement age to 70.
“It speeds the bankruptcy of Social Security. Social Security is due to go bankrupt in 2034. This will speed it up by a year or so. It’s $200 billion added to a program that is already short of money,” Paul told The Hill, adding, “If you’re going to add to its mandate by expanding it, you should pay for it.”
“It would ensure Americans are not erroneously denied their well-earned social security benefits simply because they chose at some point to work in their careers in public service,” Schumer posted on X.
The Democratic leadership’s stance appears inconsistent with their previous statements. Vice President Kamala Harris recently posted on X: “Donald Trump tried to cut Medicare and Social Security every year he was president. I believe that when people have worked hard their entire life, they deserve to retire with the benefits they have earned.”
President Biden similarly stated in May: “Medicare is stronger and Social Security remains strong. As long as I am President, I will keep strengthening Social Security and Medicare and protecting them from Republicans’ attempts to cut benefits Americans have earned.”
GREAT NEWS: The Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act, a bill I authored with Senator Sherrod Brown, by a vote of 76-20 last night! It will be signed into law in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/2xhxRDsG70
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) December 21, 2024
Representative Hakeem Jeffries claimed: “Trump’s Project 2025 will end Social Security and Medicare as we know it.”
Meanwhile, Trump has maintained, “We’re not touching Social Security.”
This legislative move could either reflect misguided policy-making or strategic political maneuvering. Perhaps Hanlon’s Razor applies here – suggesting incompetence rather than malice might better explain these actions.
