Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare Issues Statement on Social Security Cut

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare issued the following statement by President and CEO Max Richtman:

"In case there was any doubt that the White House and Congressional Republicans still want to cut Americans' earned benefits, chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow just confirmed it.

"Kudlow told CNBC Monday that 'everybody's going to look at entitlements' next year. This aligns with comments from National Republican Congressional Committee chair, Rep. Steve Stivers, and House Speaker Paul Ryan about the need to pay for last year's tax cuts by 'reforming' Social Security and Medicare. 'Reforming,' of course, means cutting and privatizing.

"Polls consistently indicate that majorities of Americans oppose cutting earned benefits and privatization - and do not support the Trump/GOP tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. Kudlow's remarks are particularly ironic in light of President Trump's recent assertion that the administration and its allies in Congress will 'protect' Social Security and Medicare while Democrats want to 'destroy' them.

"In reality, Democrats last week invigorated their campaign to boost benefits by launching Expand Social Security caucuses in the House and Senate. Democrats have introduced legislation to strengthen Social Security and reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Republicans' latest budget proposals call for billions in cuts to both Social Security and Medicare.

"The president's top economic advisor has just reinforced the political right's true priorities: cutting benefits for seniors and disabled Americans living on fixed incomes to pay for tax cuts for the rich."