Republicans Call for Retirement Age Hike in Clash With Biden

[demmiblue]

Source: Bloomberg

The largest caucus of House Republicans called for an increase in the Social Security retirement age Wednesday, setting up a clash with President Joe Biden over spending on popular entitlement programs.

The Republican Study Committee, which comprises about 80% of House Republicans, called for the Social Security eligibility age to be tied to life expectancy in its fiscal 2025 budget proposal. It also suggests reducing benefits for top earners who aren’t near retirement, including a phase-out of auxiliary benefits for the highest earners.

The proposal sets the stage for an election-year fight with Biden, who accused Republicans of going after popular entitlement programs during his State of the Union address.

“If anyone here tries to cut Social Security, Medicare, or raise the retirement age, I will stop you,” Biden said in his March 7 address to Congress.

Read more: https://news.bgov.com/bloomberg-government-news/republicans-call-for-retirement-age-hike-in-clash-with-biden

[House of Roberts]

1. All Republicans who advocate raising the retirement age

should have to work as ditch diggers, roofers, or crop pickers from age 65 to the new retirement age. No exceptions.

[multigraincracker]

19. I'd love to seen them working in

a Rail yard, loading and unloading cars and trucks in there old age. They would last an hour.

[Aussie105]

37. As above.

A blanket retirement age just doesn't work for some.

Office sitters, politicians maybe - but not your average physical job working Joe.

[Attilatheblond]

45. Or any retail job, server in a restaurant, or any job in a hospital

They wouldn't last an hour in any of the jobs they expect over 67s to do. They want all the olds dead before they can ever receive the benefits they earned with decades of payroll deductions.

JUST RAISE THE CAP!

[onetexan]

61. What are they wanting to raise the retirement age to?

Apologies, i've been trying to live under a rock recently due to the deluge of stressful news daily.

[House of Roberts]

62. It's a calculated change.

The Republican Study Committee, which comprises about 80% of House Republicans, called for the Social Security eligibility age to be tied to life expectancy in its fiscal 2025 budget proposal.

[onetexan]

64. Thanks. Such BS as usual from the Regressive party.

[Lonestarblue]

68. Life expectancy in the US has been declining, not increasing as Republicans claim.

Average life expectancy in 2019 was 79. Now it’s 76. It also varies considerably by ethnicity, with Native Americans having the lowest average at 62. The average for Black Americans is 70. Full SS retirement age is already at 67, so raising it a year or two means that many people who pay taxes their whole working lives die before they get benefits or live just a year or so. That’s hardly fair, but being fair has never been a part of the Republican playbook.

[CousinIT]

2. This goddamned committee was formed to cut, gut and privatize Social Security & Medicare.

THAT is on the ballot in November. There isn't anybody except the damn billionaires who won't need Social Security & Medicare in their lives. Why should these people who paid into these all their lives suffer cut benefits to pay for the damn billionaire tax cuts?

BULLSHIT.

The retirement age should be LOWERED to 55, not raised. Most people can't work until they're 70. My own retirement age was already raised once (it's 67).

It's worth reminding all the "I'm not going to vote I hate Biden and Trump" idiots and the write-in and third-party idiots that their parents and grandparents will be living with them and they'll be supporting them if they don't vote for Biden and Democrats.

[SharonAnn]

69. My mother explained this about Social Security to me almost 50 years ago

Last edited Thu Mar 21, 2024, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Young families who grew up in the Depression and went through World War II were able to buy houses, educate their kids, and save for retirement because of Social Security (and then Medicare). They were no longer burdened by financially taking care of their parents housing, other expenses, and costly medical bills.

When young families had to carry those burdens, they could bareley afford that in addition to their families immediate needs for housing, food, clothing, etc.

[CousinIT]

70. There's no way anybody can survive having to take care of parents & grandparents today

Wages are stagnant, no paid sick leave for many, no childcare, housing prices are sky-high, homeowner's insurance is getting impossible too and all this will become worse w/ climate change. I could go on and on.

These non-voting morons are screwing not only themselves but the entire country, too.

[Qutzupalotl]

3. So Republicans are for handing Ukraine to Putin,

sham elections, dirtier water and air, open carry everywhere, revoking women's rights, cutting taxes for the people who don't need it, and now forcing seniors to work until they drop.

What's to like?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. They want to eliminate Social Security and Medicare (or privatize them)

Time to dust this off and update it -

[ShazzieB]

20. Powerful!

[Emile]

33. Awesome ad!

[Hope22]

48. Feels about right.

So much disappointment when people over sixty isolated during Covid. I got the feeling that there were two options, stay home and rot or drop dead. Either way was good!

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Christ almighty. How do these people ever win over the Senior vote.

Hard to believe that Republican Seniors are more enamored of hating people, than they are of protecting their own interests. But there it is.

[jimfields33]

15. Because they know the new retirement age would start with those in their 30's like the last time.

It didn’t begin for decades after it passed.

[SouthernDem4ever]

24. I haven't seen that in the narrative this time

Am I missing something?

[Baitball Blogger]

40. If this is in writing, it's something we should share with the younger generation.

I hate to put a wedge between the generations, but if Republican Seniors continue to shit on the younger generations, it's time to put an end to any feelings of empathy for them.

[COL Mustard]

53. Absolutely right

The last time major Social Security reform passed I was in my 20s and didn't understand it or care. It was just another tax I had to pay. Now guess what? I can collect at any time (full retirement age next year) and it matters!

[jaxexpat]

52. Good question, "How do these people ever win over the Senior vote."

Answer: they fabricate history with whole new "facts". Like..............
>everyone loved Reagan, he was a no-nonsense straight shooter.
>Democrats will "_____name an atrocity which low-info people dread______".
>Social Security and Medicare are "entitlements", your taxes are squandered to support deadbeats. (maybe even non-white, too)
>Social Security will be gone when you retire. (that's the most insidious)

The lie I personally despise the most is when they're taught to use European social programs as examples of over-taxation without useful result. When you explain to Republicans the value of higher quality-of-life standards provided by democratic socialism the response is always, "but they take half your income as taxes". They never perform an honest accounting of their actual involuntary outlay for items which are covered by taxes in the democratic socialism scenario. If they just did that one little mental exercise, accept the simple facts, their POV's would have to change or go MAGA, which is death to thought.

[Voltaire2]

6. Good. A frontal assault on social security benefits is a fight we can win.

Raise the cap. Raise the benefits.

[Wonder Why]

7. I propose a Retirement Age for Repugs who want to change the rules:

They have to work until they are 120 to get any retirement benefits. Their salaries are cut by 50% and require a 2/3 majority vote of every state's voters to increase their salary.

Their medical plan while working is straight ObamaCare and upon retirement is standard Medicare like everyone else but they can buy additional insurance out of their own salary but not from campaign money or donations from others.

[RainCaster]

9. You better take away their legal right to insider trading

Those bastards have made plenty of money on insider trading. That must all go into eldercare programs.

[Arger68]

8. For Republicans the only person

in America who is too old to work is Joe Biden

[Marthe48]

10. Most people I know didn't live to collect Social Security or use Medicare

Of the people in my family, of 3 generations, I can think of 9 people who lived to collect SS or use Medicare. That's including aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings. My husband's family has more people who lived to draw, but maybe only because there are so many more of them in the first place. I can think of more of my friends who died than lived to sign up for Social Security or use Medicare.

Most of the people I know worked from their early teens to their mid to late 50s, and died. As far as I'm concerned, the age to start collecting should be lowered rather than increased. Obviously, the people who want to raise the age have never worked, or forgot how grueling it was, or think that their personal wealth will increase if they back this crap.

[4lbs]

11. RSC. Republican Study Committee or Really Stupid Crap?

Same thing, so the acronym still applies.

[Basic LA]

12. Wrong direction!

Great campaign issue! Now we should counter by returning to 65 for full & 62 for early retirement, as FDR initiated. Full stop. Not a day older. Paid for by raising the cut-off contribution level to include fatcats.

[thinkingagain]

31. Well I kinda was liking

Earlier.
Like full retirement @ 62
But at least they could say if you’re eligible to do early retirement at 62 you should also be eligible for Medicare.
Am I personal opinion Medicare should include dental envision and it should be free for any seniors that are making let’s say $50,000 a year or less.
Since I’m a Advocate for free healthcare for all, including medical dental and vision that that income could go higher.

[Basic LA]

42. There you go. I'm right with you.

Age should go down, never up.

[Backseat Driver]

49. I had hoped that dental, vision, and HEARING issues would be added to Medicare in some way!

Adequate communication, hygienic grooming, and feeding are essential "quality of life" issues for seniors and their elderly at-home caregivers.

[Upthevibe]

41. Basic LA....

I agree. This is an excellent campaign issue. We need to CLEARLY STATE in EASY TO UNDERSTAND language ads for all Dems. this election cycle. We need to specifically and pointedly identify every republican on that committee (and others who are in favor of this) regarding this horrible idea.

I became eligible for Social Security just three weeks ago! On that date, I turned 66 1/2 which is now the age to receive your full benefits and allow you to work and earn as much money as you want without being restricted. It'll take approximately 30 days for processing (I pray everything goes okay), and I'll be receiving my check at the same time each month.

In 2011 - 2013 I had a pretty bad bout with depression and ended up spending my 401K to live on. Now my Social Security checks will be my main source of income. Fortunately, I plan on continuing working as a substitute teacher so I can save as much as possible.

[Backseat Driver]

50. Be aware you will never be able to set up auto-pay for many of your bills/subscriptions because of the way SS is paid

When you are not working, if SS is your sole income for the month, please note that billing DATES move around the calendar. There are often discounts given when payment is made auto-pay for which you will not be eligible. Your ONLY check will likely come the first, second, third, last Wednesday of the month which encompasses many specific DATES of the month -- NOT days! Plan spending in advance carefully - paying on-time is still important to your financial health.

[Warpy]

13. One thing Russia does better is assessing retirement age

People who do heavy physical work retire earlier than soft, pink desk jockeys like Republican Congressmen who want to cling to their hefty salaries until they're toothless and demented and finally get carried out feet first.

I would love to hear them change their tunes after 6 months working in a warehouse, mine, or nursing home in their 40s and 50s.

I dare you, assholes. Find out what the rest of us do for a living.

[ShazzieB]

21. Hear, hear!

"I would love to hear them change their tunes after 6 months working in a warehouse, mine, or nursing home in their 40s and 50s."

Or in a factory, or as a restaurant server, or any other job that requires them to be on their feet feet all the damned time!

[hadEnuf]

60. They already know what it's like for the "other people" in those jobs. Thay are the ones making them do it.

They. Just. Don't. Care.

They are finally going after Social Security and Medicare, the 3rd rail of politics.

Electrocute them with it. Period. No backing off.

[JustAnotherGen]

38. Tech

I can't imagine most of these GOP folks in Congress drive 110 miles round trip with 8-6 hours, getting home getting on calls at 10 at night. Walking into a server factory in the extreme heat and having meetings on the floor.

They don't get it.

[Ray Bruns]

57. than soft, pink desk jockeys like Republican Congressmen who want to cling to their hefty salaries "

As a soft, pink desk jockey, I object to being compared with a Republican

[sakabatou]

14. It's something which they've always called for. Nothing new.

[paleotn]

16. Life expectancy is declining in the US

Particularly among the Republican base.

[70sEraVet]

39. That was MY thought!

Life expectancy HAS dropped since Covid! Can we drop the age to collect full retirement benefits back to 65??
Doesn't really affect me -- I'm 70 and have been retired for a few years now. But I could use some younger fishing buddies -- my boat leaks, and I could use somebody with the stamina to work the bailing bucket for a few hours!!!

[EarthFirst]

17. Who doesn't appreciate a third rail issue in a campaign year...

Please. By all means; proceed…

[Upthevibe]

44. EarthFirst......

Very well put!

[bmichaelh]

18. Life expectancy is not the same for everyone

Life expectancy is not the same for everyone.

For example, I have had lymphoma 3x and COVID 2x.

What do they mean: average life expectancy; low-end, high-end?

[SouthernDem4ever]

22. House Republicans, called for the Social Security eligibility age to be tied to life expectancy in its 2025 budget

So that means your social security starts the day you die? Jeez their stupid.

[cate94]

23. Wouldn't we save as much

Cancelling the GOP’s retirement benefits? Let them live on SS and Medicare like the rest of us.

[Blue Idaho]

25. The GQP has forgotten

That Social Security is still the third rail of American politics…

[marble falls]

26. That will affect a lot of deplorables in a negative way.

[kimbutgar]

27. I wonder how those near retirement who are repuke hear that their party wants to raise the age to get

Social security and also cut social security payments for existing payees…….Of course I know they won’t hear this in their media sadly!

[Lunabell]

28. Work yourself to death while the ultra wealthy lounge on their tax exempt mega yachts!

It's the republican way.

[Tree Lady]

29. Try getting a job over 50

then 60, 65...I put in for early SS after we moved and couldn't get hired. This was before covid when they weren't screaming for help. I guess they figure now businesses are desperate and need anyone.

[TexasBushwhacker]

65. I'm 67. Lost my job at the end of August

I have lots of employers interested in my experience, but when they see how old I am, not so much. If I'm able, I'd like to work full time at least until I'm 70. I can't draw my SS for another year and it's not enough to live on anyway.

[Tree Lady]

66. If it wasn't for my husband's

pension which isn't SS I couldn't afford it. It's not a lot but enough to live by and we own most of our home so mortgage is only $685 a month.

[Sibelius Fan]

30. Eliminate the cap on taxable income. Everyone pays on 100% of taxable income.

Yes - the wealthy will overpay when calculating what their max benefit will be. That is more than offset by the millions of Americans who pay into SS for their entire lives and never collect a cent because they die before retirement age, or who draw limited benefits as they die shortly after reaching retirement. The wealthy have better healthcare over the course of their lives and have a better chance of living longer than the average Joe, thereby pulling benefits for more years than average.

[think4yourself]

34. This is it. Right here.

Why this isn’t explained to the masses is beyond me. It’s so simple. There is no crisis. We need to do a better job of explaining this!!!

[Emile]

32. Why would anyone vote for these Republicans?

To entertain the wealthy?

[cstanleytech]

35. Democrats should hammer the Republicans with a "Work'em till their dead" campaign because

that's what the Republicans actually want.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

36. Sounds like they're sniffing their own farts again

Wait till they see how the general public reacts.

[Gore1FL]

43. What a way to capture the voter's imagination. nt

[Aussie105]

46. Is a certain political party really determined

to commit Seppuku?

[PortTack]

47. Two things going on here.... They aren't really in power so they can call for these very unpopular changes

They do it every time. Secondly tie this to a dem president and they will have a winning political strategy for decades!

ASS HOLES!

[Ohioboy]

51. Maybe the current retirement age helps increase life expectancy

A lot of jobs can be on the unhealthy side. Just saying...

[purr-rat beauty]

54. But yet...

....they score a lifetime pension for 2 useless terms in congress

seems fair.

[Oopsie Daisy]

55. Raise the cap.

[SouthernDem4ever]

56. So what are top earners?

Probably those that make between 20k and 50k a year.

[IronLionZion]

58. How about a contribution cap hike on the fabulously wealthy?

For 2024, the cap is $168,600. Why have a cap at all?

[patphil]

59. The Republicans are just putting forth ways to take away benefits.

A much better way to deal with the issue of Social Security funding would be to raise the wage base limit that is subject to Social Security tax.
It's currently at $168,600, and increases a small amount each year.
It needs to be a lot higher. I think $500,000. would be a more realistic wage base limit.
That would keep Social Security solvent for perhaps 20-30 years. Social Security is funded by both the employer and employee. Raise the base, insure it's solvency, and leave it alone. Do this and there's no need to raise the age for full benefits, or reduce the amount of benefits.

[dobleremolque]

63. Bull. Eliminate the contributions cap. n/t

[twodogsbarking]

67. They just want to reduce benefits and they are using age as a calculation to do it.

Social Security works but has flaws. Stop trying to fuck it up more, morons.

[Demsrule86]

71. Being alive and having the ability to work are two different thing Republicans.

[onecaliberal]

72. LIFT THE CAP. /end problem.

[CarolinaNC]

73. They need to go dig a few ditches.

[Evolve Dammit]

74. WTYD; Work Till you Die. New hats coming...