Democrats should make Social Security a top issue in the midterms here’s how and why | TheHill – The Hill
The nation is facing a retirement income crisis.Social Security is unquestionably the nations most importantsource of retirement income. But the last time Congress expanded Social Security was when Richard Nixon was president. Unless this Congress addresses the crisis by expanding Social Security, too many Americans will be unable to retire without a drastic and precipitous drop in their standards of living.
As the wealthiest country in the history of the world, America can afford to protect and expand Social Security if we require those at the top to contribute their fair share. The good news is that this Congress is poised to take action.
Rep. John Larson John Barry LarsonDemocrats should make Social Security a top issue in the midterms here's how and why It shouldn't be this hard to grow old in America House Democrats reintroduce Social Security reform bill MORE (D-Conn.), chair of the House Social Security Subcommittee, just held ahearingon his legislation,Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust. The 2100 Act isco-sponsoredby 90 percent of House Democrats and incorporates all of the expansions that President Joe Bidenpromisedduring his winning campaign.
The legislation increases Social Securitys modest benefits both across the board and also in long overdue ways. It adds a caregiver credit, restores student benefits, improves benefits for widow(er)s, and much, much more. It pays for every penny by requiring the highest paid earners to contribute to Social Security at the same rate as the rest of us.
Although no Republican politician has co-sponsored the expansion legislation, protecting and expanding Social Security has strong bipartisan support among those who count most the American people. Largemajoritiesof Republicans, Democrats, and independents overwhelmingly support Social Security expansion. But Republican politicians are listening to their corporate donors, not their voters.
Now is the time for Democrats, who currently control both houses of Congress and the White House, to bring Social Security expansion to a vote. Theres no better way to show constituents the difference between the two parties on this essential, bread-and-butter issue.
Social Security is a priority for voters. A Public Policy Polling survey conducted in 2018found that56 percent of those who voted for Donald TrumpDonald TrumpNews networks see major viewership drop in 2021 Man who told Biden 'let's go Brandon' goes on Bannon's podcast, touts Trump Democrats should make Social Security a top issue in the midterms here's how and why MORE and 55 percent of those who identify as Republican would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported expanding and increasing Social Security.
Expanding Social Security, while requiring those at the top to contribute more, will help to reverse income and wealth inequality an issue President ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaDemocrats should make Social Security a top issue in the midterms here's how and why How American conservatives normalize anti-Semitism VP dilemma: The establishment or the base? MOREcalledthe defining challenge of our time. That inequality not only exacerbates the retirement income crisis; it also costs Social Security billions of dollars of revenue every year.
Because the earnings of high-income workers have increased much more rapidly than the average over the last several decades, an increasing amount of their earned incomefalls above the current $142,800 cap on which Social Security contributions are assessed.That cap has slipped from covering 90 percent of nationwide wages, as Congress intended, to 83 percent today.As a result of that seemingly small slippage,those at the top paid $84.4 billion less to Social Security justin 2020 alone. Those are billions of dollars that should have gone to Social Security but instead stayed in the pockets of the wealthiest among us.
Moreover, congressional action on legislation which both expands benefits and reduces Social Securitys projected shortfall by more than half, as the 2100 Act does, will begin to restore the intangible benefit of peace of mind that Social Security is intended to provide. Too many Americans have lost that sense of security because they have heard, erroneously, that Social Security will disappear and they will never receive their earned benefits. A vote on safeguarding and expanding Social Security will restore the American peoples confidence that Congress is a responsible steward of their earned benefits.
Expanding Social Security willstrengthen the economyand create jobs.Because the vast majority of Social Securitys 65 million beneficiaries are low or moderate income, they tend to spend their benefits immediately in the local community in which they live. Social Security is especially important to rural communities, which tend to be older.
In short, Social Securityis a solution. Protecting and expanding Social Securitys modest benefits is wise policy and represents the will of the people. It will improve the economy, create jobs, and add substantially to the security of working families.
It is imperative that this Congress vote on Social Security. Democrats must make Social Security their next top priority. They must force Republicans to stop hiding and make their views clear in an up-or-down vote. If they do, voters will reward the party that created Social Security and continues to protect and improve it.
The Democrats will then be following the vision of President Franklin Roosevelt who proclaimed, when he signed Social Security into law, that he was laying down a cornerstone in a structure whichis by no means complete. President BidenJoe BidenFauci says CDC cut isolation time so people return to work faster Overnight Health Care CDC cuts isolation time for the asymptomatic Energy & Environment 2021's weather disasters cost 0B MORE, Chairman Larson, and the Democratic Party are poised to take the next step in completing this essential structure.
Nancy Altman is president of Social Security Works.
See original here:
Democrats should make Social Security a top issue in the midterms here's how and why | TheHill - The Hill
- Will Trump's megabill help Democrats win the House? - NPR - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A congressman on how Democrats can regain the initiative on the economy - The Economist - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democrats see Trumps big bill as key to their comeback. It may not be so easy - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democrats going after Trumps megabill tell their own stories of needing Medicaid and other aid programs - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Mass. Democrats say cuts from Trump's bill will be 'devastating,' brace for impact - WBUR - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democrats respond to Trump signing megabill - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Pols & Politics: Whats next for Beacon Hill Democrats after finishing early-term priorities - Boston Herald - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Trump on Democrats who voted against GOP megabill: I hate them - The Hill - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Trumps Budget Bill Would Explode Funding for ICE. Top Democrats Arent Talking About It. - The Intercept - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Opinion | For Democrats, Mamdani Is a Wake-Up Calland a Bad Example - WSJ - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democrats and Republicans were out on the Virginia campaign trail. Heres what they had to say. - The Virginian-Pilot - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Exclusive | Just half of Democrats consider themselves patriots, compared to 91% of Republicans, poll reveals - New York Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- First Thing: Corrupt kleptocracy Democrats furious over passage of Trump bill - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- In Trumps Bill, Democrats See a Path to Win Back Voters - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump Kicks Off Celebration of America by Declaring His Hatred for Democrats - The Daily Beast - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats frustrated over lack of a heads-up from Hakeem Jeffries on delaying Trumps spending bill - Fox News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- A dark day for our country: Democrats furious over Trump bills passage - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats See Trumps Big Bill as Key to Their Comeback. It May Not Be So Easy - U.S. News & World Report - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats to focus on unpopular GOP cuts in bid to take back the House - The Washington Post - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion | Zohran Mamdani Won by Listening. Democrats Should Try It. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- House Democrats filibuster but only delay the final passage of Trumps big bill - Washington Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Abundance at the fore of Democrats new ideas sweepstakes - The Washington Post - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Denied This City Had a Gang Problem. The Truth Is Complicated. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Should Become the Pro-Porn Party - The Nation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- 175+ Democrats supporting NAACP suit against dismantling Department of Education - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pro-Israel Jewish Democrats say Mamdanis stances are cause for concern and action - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Psaki: Republicans will regret passing Trump's bill as Democrats look to reprise 2018's House flip - MSNBC News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Bet Jobs in Red States Would Save Clean Power Projects. They Lost. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Can the abundance movement save the Democrats? - The Washington Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- FBI headquarters will remain in downtown DC, roiling Washington-area Democrats - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Big Beautiful Bill Is Massively Unpopular and Democrats Plan to Keep It That Way - Time Magazine - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Stephen A. Smith: Democrats will have no chance if they become like Mamdani - The Hill - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Senate Judiciary Democrats launch probe into whether Trump officials violated court orders - The Hill - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Frustration grows over NY Democrats' 'lack of political courage' on immigration - Gothamist - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Schumer and other Senate Democrats condemn the phrase globalize the intifada - The Jerusalem Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Analysis | Why Democrats are excited about Texas for real this time - The Washington Post - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Arizona Democrats will bypass struggling state party in midterms, with key races on ballot - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Virginia Democrats hold town hall after Senate passage of 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - 13newsnow.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats will force out-loud reading of 940-page megabill - Politico - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Play It Safe or Burn It All Down? Democrats Are Still Deciding - Bloomberg - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- The Anniversary That Democrats Would Be Wise to Forget - The Atlantic - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Commentary: By stooping to conquer, Sacramento Democrats show their pettiness and arrogance - Los Angeles Times - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats respond to Senator Tillis retirement announcement - WITN - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Fetterman continues to frustrate Democrats as potential rivals focus on party's fight against Trump - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Schumer says Democrats will force reading of 940-page megabill on Senate floor - Reuters - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- NC Democrats approve resolution calling for embargo on US military support of Israel - Raleigh News & Observer - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats push to ban ICE agents masking shows whose side theyre really on - New York Post - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- WATCH: Karoline Leavitt Admits Trump is Behind the GOPs Medicaid Cuts - Democrats - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up - WHYY - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Mamdani and AOC are the Democrats of the future - JNS.org - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Failing to Adapt to Trumps New World - The Daily Beast - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up - AP News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Done Waiting My Turn: Younger Democrats Are Eager to Seize the Car Keys - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Oregon Democrats move revamped road funding bill toward crucial floor votes - Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Opinion | The generational shift coming for Democrats - The Washington Post - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Top Texas Democrats ponder the states future at forum amid questions about whats next for their party - The Texas Tribune - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohran Mamdani's primary win and the Democrats' Tea Party moment : It's Been a Minute - NPR - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohran Mamdani puts Democrats on notice, and fast food giants part ways: The news quiz - NBC News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Full List of Democrats Voting to Condemn Los Angeles Anti-Trump Riots - Newsweek - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democrats Cheer Hollywood Tax Breaks They Once Called Corporate Welfare - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- House Democrats join Republicans to kill vote impeaching Trump over Iran strikes - Axios - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- What the New York Mayoral Primary Means for Democrats - The Atlantic - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democrats Forge Ahead With Efforts to Reach War Powers Vote Amid Shaky Cease-Fire - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Democrats generational rift just got harder to ignore - The Washington Post - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Mamdanis defeat of Cuomo offers Democrats a path out of the wilderness - The Guardian - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up - Yahoo - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Progressive Rep. Greg Casar has a playbook he wants Democrats to use in 2026 - The Texas Tribune - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Kevin McCarthy: Democrats are on the wrong side of history - Fox News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats struggle to come up with a unified response to Trump's Iran strikes - NBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats Are Getting Richer. Its Not Helping. - The New York Times - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- With Andrew Cuomo, Democrats are doing a disastrous imitation of Trump | Moira Donegan - The Guardian - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Three years after Roes overturn, Democrats less focused on abortion - The Washington Post - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats undermined their response to Trumps strikes on Iran - MSNBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Trump is winning on immigration and Democrats are falling right into his trap | Opinion - USA Today - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- US Democrats introduce resolution to check Trump's use of military against Iran - Reuters - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrats to choose new House Oversight Committee leader to take on Trump - NBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Murkowski leaves door open to scenario of caucusing with Democrats - Axios - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- An Iran Cease-Fire, and Why N.Y.C.s Mayoral Race Matters for Democrats Everywhere - The New York Times - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Virginia Democrats sue university heads over Youngkin appointees - The Washington Post - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republicans and Democrats Agreed on Iran's Nuclear Weapons Threat - Newsweek - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]