Pappas Joins Warren and Colleagues in Pressing Thune, Johnson on Republican Plans to Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
Johnson recently indicated Republicans have a “plan” to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid if they retain power
“Americans deserve to have full transparency into Republican plans to attack earned benefits like Social Security.”
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), in pressing Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (LA-04) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) on Republican plans to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
The push comes amid Republicans’ months-long assault on these critical programs for seniors and Americans with disabilities, and recent comments indicate there may be more attacks to come. Speaker Johnson recently stated publicly that Republicans have a “plan” to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid if they retain control of Congress next year, stating: “The reason we’re in trouble is because over 74% of federal spending is on autopilot, mandatory spending. That’s your entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and things like Social Security. They have to be adjusted and fixed. We have a plan to do that next year.” Just this week, another House Republican said Congress could “get into” Social Security.
“Americans deserve to have full transparency into Republican plans to attack earned benefits like Social Security,” wrote the lawmakers.
Since the start of President Trump’s second term, Republicans have relentlessly attacked Americans’ health insurance, retirement, and food security programs. Republicans passed legislation to rip away health coverage from roughly 15 million Americans, forced millions to lose food assistance by slashing funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), threatened to revive Bush-era efforts to privatize Social Security, and made it harder for Social Security beneficiaries to access their benefits.
Now, Republicans are threatening to launch further attacks on these crucial programs. Along with his comments regarding Republicans’ “plan” to slash critical programs, Johnson has blamed programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security for the national debt.
“Johnson's defense — that he is targeting only ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ — is nothing more than a smoke-and-mirrors scheme to cover up benefit cuts,” wrote the lawmakers. “A plan you will not show the voters before they vote is not reassurance. It is a warning and revealing of Republican priorities.”
The lawmakers called on Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Thune to reveal said plan to the American people.
“Democrats have already put forward plans to rein in the cost of health care and to protect and strengthen Social Security, all without cutting benefits or ripping people away from their health care,” wrote the lawmakers. “It is time for Republicans to put their money where their mouth is and put forward their plan.”