Top Republican: Raise Social Security's retirement age to 70

[Purveyor]

Source: THE HILL

A Republican-held Congress might look to raise the retirement age to 70, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) suggested Monday.

Boehner, the top Republican lawmaker in the House, said raising the retirement age by five years, indexing benefits to the rate of inflation and means-testing benefits would make the massive entitlement program more solvent.

"We're all living a lot longer than anyone ever expected," Boehner said in a meeting with the editors of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "And I think that raising the retirement age — going out 20 years, so you're not affecting anyone close to retirement — and eventually getting the retirement age to 70 is a step that needs to be taken."

The GOP leader said Social Security was the most important entitlement to reform, though he also pledged Republicans would bring legislation to the floor to repeal and replace the healthcare reforms passed earlier this year if the GOP wins back control of the House this fall.


Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/106135-boehner-raise-social-securitys-retirement-age-to-70

[closeupready]

1. No need. Just eliminate the cap. Problem solved.

n/t

[mbperrin]

23. Yes. That's all that needs to be done.

Nothing else at all.

Don't let these bastards lasso people into thinking of anything else, please!

[liberalmike27]

69. Yep, Get rid of cap

and pay back the 2-3 TRILLION that has been borrowed from the social security fund.

And Jesus, I'm feeling like I'm not going to make it to 62, or 65 already, and I'm just 54. Most folks are getting fired because they are old. Hell, they should move the age the other way, instead of trying to make it where folks never collect by moving it to older ages.

[mbperrin]

95. No need to pay back the overall debt. Just redeem the ss fund bonds

and let others continue to finance the debt. Redemptions are nothing new or even unusual.

[Dr.Phool]

38. And give HIMSELF a tax increase?

Ridiculous. Why, I've never......

[DesertFlower]

50. i agree. nt

[lsewpershad]

66. That's right.

Is Boner sure he'll make it to 70?

[CONN]

80. yep

[DrDan]

2. this is certainly better than to raise the cap and ask the wealthy to contribute more

[closeupready]

4. Yes, we don't want to do that. We need to even look at lowering taxes on the wealthiest.

And perhaps raising it on those who make less than $40,000 per year. Since citizenship is a privilege.

[liberation]

48. If the wealthy were to have their bottom lines affected it would be most unfortunate

And everybody knows that working is a privilege, so why not enjoy it until you drop dead?

The rich are just watching out for our interests by trickling down their concern, we are a bunch of ingrates if you ask me.

[toppertwot]

62. You are so right!

It is time for the working people give up their OPULENT lifstyles, learn to make do, pay off the bills for the banksters, war mongers, and the rich dudes. Plus, eating canned dog food is not so bad once you have learned to fix it right!

[closeupready]

65. Shee-it - a dash of hot sauce, some sauteed garlic, and you got yourself a square meal, mister.

:rofl:

[lunasun]

88. You need to apologize Dr.

for even thinking about shaking down the wealthy for a bigger contribution! :sarcasm:

[msongs]

3. no need, just cut back the military welfare war criminal subsidies nt

[Auggie]

5. As if the workforce has jobs for 68 year olds

Out-of-touch asshole

[Dr.Phool]

42. I'm only 58 and my body is shot.

And, I didn't have all that tough of a job to begin with. But, sitting on a vibrating locomotive for 31 years does take it's toll.

[Enthusiast]

55. Many of us are very sick

before we are 60 years old. There are many causes.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Let me get this straight: Boehner suggests raising retirement age to 70 but

the rest of the republicans are complaining that us "older" working folks should retire "early" to let younger people have an opportunity to work. So imagine 10+ years, waiting for Social Security to kick in. No income, no pension, no savings. Just in time for the first wave of Baby Boomers who have played by The Rules.

[DrDan]

8. the idea of older Americans retiring earlier so the young could boost their nest-eggs

was proposed here yesterday.

So it's not only the R's who are thinking of this.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. Yikes! They're everywhere!!!!

:wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

[superconnected]

7. Nope, lower it to 62. People are lucky if they even have a job at 55.

[panader0]

14. It is 62 isn't it?

I just received my social security statement listing the amount I would receive at 62 and each year after. I work to live, not live to work. I'm taking it at the earliest possible age. Three more years!

[superconnected]

18. I belive it's 65 - at least for my age range. I'm 44.

[Tempest]

20. You can collect at age 62 with reduced benefits

http://moneyover55.about.com/od/preretirementplanning/a/socialsecurityage62.htm

[JenniferJuniper]

21. It's 67 for your age range although

at least as it stands right now, you can take a reduced payment at 62.

[JenniferJuniper]

24. It's damn near impossible to find a job in your 50's

in this country. Unless you have the stamina to stand in a CVS all day for minimal wage, there almost certainly will be no job for you at at 70.

[superconnected]

32. My experience with the people I'm around is most die in their 60's anyway. They can't afford health

care.

This is a sad sad nation for anyone who is over 50 and for anyone with medical problems at any age.

[DesertFlower]

51. i think it's 66 for you.

i was born in '41 and the age for me to collect the full amount was 65 + 8 months. hubby was born in '47 and his is 66.

[JenniferJuniper]

54. Full retirement is 67 for anyone born from 1960 on right now.

I expect they'll try to push it up to 70 for people born around 1980 and up.

[DesertFlower]

76. 70 is a bit much,

especially with the job situation the way it is.

[SharonAnn]

99. No, for you it is 67 years before full Social Security. Check it out.

Under Reagan the rules were changed. I'm 64 now and full retirement for me is at age 66. For those born after 1955 I think the age is 67.

This is why everyone should understand what their Social Security situation is. It's amazing to me that most people have no idea that these changes were made under Reagan in the 1980's.

I think the link is www.socialsecurity.gov

[DrDan]

19. are you married? If so, there are survivor implications

to taking it earier beyond the reduced amounts.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Ah so marriage is not some religion only thing but has to do

with families, survivors, and that sort of thing? It about money, to a degree in fact?

[DrDan]

30. it is about the SS payment due a surviving spouse

so yes - about money.

[DesertFlower]

79. my parents were divorced.

both of them took their ss at 62. my dad died at age 83 and my mom was entitled to survivor benefits because they had been married for more than 10 years. it brought her payment up almost $500 a month. dad's second wife also got the survivor benefits.

[DesertFlower]

78. both of my parents

took their's at 62.

[dflprincess]

87. You can collect at 62 but your benefit is way lower

I received my statement a couple months ago and the difference for me between retirement at 66 and retirement at 70 is nearly $500/month. I have less faith in my 401K being of much use by the time I get to retirement so I'm planning to work until 70 - not that I'm happy about it.

[closeupready]

31. Agreed 100%.

n/t

[Enthusiast]

56. They are protesting France

because it was raised to 62! Just goes to show you.

[lunasun]

89. shows how much harder and longer we have to

serve our paymasters compared to France
plus they got to go on strike without fear of losing jobs over this age raise.
oh and that health thing, they have #1 care there, so we suffer more too
But we do have shock and awe wars so that is good for all of us and our future well being.

[no limit]

9. Yes, lets put it off 20 years so we can again transfer the burden to our children

these people are fucking assholes.

[Webster Green]

10. They would raise the age to 95 if they could.

Heartless mutherfuckers that they are. :mad:

[Enthusiast]

57. They would simply end it.

That and every other tiny bit of humane treatment of their fellow humans beings.

[Beam Me Up]

11. GREAT! More reasons to NOT vote Republican! And us boomers DO vote! n/t

[tk2kewl]

13. how about law makers pensions kick in at 90

[BlueIdaho]

15. Another winning idea from the republican party... nt

[superconnected]

16. the republicans run the deficit up with their illegal and usless wars, they robbed from Social

Security, and now they want to make America work 5 years longer? Doing what- Bagging Groceries.. WTF.

These men deserve to rot in hell. How can people be so stupid to support these conscience-less bastards?

I figure it takes someone who really hates people to vote Republican.

[Enthusiast]

59. They want a return to

Dickensian England and they want it now! Debtor's prison! Privatized! Big money maker. You know-small business entrepreneurs. :banghead:

[Demeter]

17. Retire All CongressCritters at 60

and let them live without social security for ten years. And NO defined benefit pension!

[Turbineguy]

25. This makes sense

especially if they can succeed in getting us to die younger.

[Braulio]

26. Sounds like a good idea, but....

I would like for those who already retired to return the money they got between 62 and 70. Or they can live with reduced checks. Also, there's a little bit of fibbing going on, the system is solvent, what's not solvent is Medicare. Finally, although I am fairly well off, I am tired of seeing all the benefits go to the rich. We need to re-instate the estate tax, and also do something to increase wages for the working poor. And this means we need to reduce the illegal alien influx. The Border patrol needs beefing up, an extra 20,000 agents on the border and a good set of fences should do it. Cutting overall government spending would also be a good idea. We could start by pulling all our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and cutting foreign aid to Israel. There's no need to give money to a country whose population lives better than the American poor.

[HelenWheels]

27. Easy job

Boner has a job that does not require any physical effort. He's run around with a limo, has people waiting on him hand and foot. Let him try to work road construction, garbage collection or even nursing and see if he can handle it at 70.

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. This 56 year old says

Fuck that

[Bluenorthwest]

29. "we're all living longer"? Depends on the meaning of 'we'.

African American life expectancy is 70.2 years, compared to an average of 76.5 years for all population groups. The difference in life expectancy is even more striking among African American men, who have a life expectancy of only 66.1 years, compared to the national average of 73.6 years for all men.
So 66. Retirement at 70. The math does itself.

[WatchWhatISay]

33. Whatever happened to "Its YOUR money!"

This isn't a handout, people paid in to this system. Many of us won't live to be 70. So the system will depend on us dying quickly, just like Alan Grayson said?

[boomerbust]

34. Silly Boner

This from a guy who never did an honest days work in his life.

[Enthusiast]

60. +1

[boomerbust]

35. Silly Boner

This from a guy who never did an honest days work in his life.

[Enthusiast]

61. +1

[KamaAina]

36. Bzzzzzzzt! Boner touches the third rail!

Could that be why he's orange? :shrug:

[Dappleganger]

37. Why don't we just build giant internment camps for ages 55-70

They're going to be jobless and homeless anyway, so we may as well put them altogether and forget about them there.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[florida08]

41. I'm sure that's in the works

[Dappleganger]

46. It seriously wouldn't surprise me...

for the life of me I can't imagine why the repukes are so hateful to people. They are cutting off their nose to spite their face.

[liberation]

53. If you take the GOP platform as being solely targeted to appeal to your average Joe Asshole

Then the GOP MOs start to make perfect sense, at least it does in my case.


What I find frightening is the fact that the GOP manages to capture half of the votes, consistently, running on that sole platform. Which means there are a lot of assholes in our society. And that is sad, and yet so representative of our society.

[Dappleganger]

75. George Carlin was right...

we get the government we deserve. :(

[tularetom]

39. Doesn't matter - if you don't have a job you have nothing to retire from

How many years of 10% =/- unemployment will it take to put Social Security in the crapper?

If people aren't working they aren't paying in.

[704wipes]

83. and your benefit is calculated from your avg yearly earnings

so if your income goes down drastically from your 50's to this new retirement age...even if you live
to the new retirement age of 70, your benefit calculated on your avergae earnings is going to DROP like a rock.

30-something Joe the Plumbers should consider this before packing onto Boner's bandwagon.

[florida08]

40. wtf

"We're living a lot longer than anyone expected"..and that's a bad thing? How many goppers will vote for SS reform..ALL OF THEM.
How many will not take it when none of them need it..NONE OF THEM.

[freebrew]

43. Hey Boner....!!!!

You need a visit from some of your constituents. They really elected you?

As for me,,,, fuck you!

[Dawgs]

44. YES!! More AMMO to use against the right.

Thanks Boner!!

[Lagomorph]

84. You must be quite young...

...to think it will be a game changer.

[Dawgs]

94. I said "more ammo", not a 'game changer'. Maybe you're the young one.

:shrug:

[Lagomorph]

96. Doubt it.

There are people out there who are looking for some sign of financial responsibility from the government. I meet them day in and day out. They are ready to tighten their belts, but not for more "largess". They seem to have the attitude of "let's get it over with".

That's a whole other can of worms. People who don't know what they'll need are reluctant to give up what they have, even if they don't need it now.

The financial people (both government and private) need to get out of "La-La" land. Taking money off the street, just to gamble with it on wall street, is nothing more than a gambling addiction. They need to be reminded they are a part of something, not the whole something all by themselves.

Handing out benefits checks after they sent all the jobs offshore and bankrupted the economy doesn't make anybody a hero or a friend. The only choice we were ever given was take it or leave it.

[Bette Noir]

45. Raising the retirement age would be dandy

if there were plenty of jobs to go around, and we were all healthy into our 70s. In the real world, we should be talking about lowering the retirement age.

[h9socialist]

47. I hope that this is part of the Republican platform!

They'll lose every competitive race in the country.

[Change Happens]

64. lol...

[Moostache]

49. To loosely paraphrase the Orangeman from Ohio...

HELL NO YOU CAN'T!!!

The democrats that vote with this clown circus of failed ideological baggage should also be run out of Washington on a rail.

And the last time I checked, fomenting or promoting talk of revolution was sedition...can anyone explain to me why this man is not on trial for his very freedom?

[liberal N proud]

52. Raise retirement and cut the rich taxes

So F@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%@$%#$@%ing REPUBLICAN!!!!

:grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr::grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr::grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr::grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr::grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr::grr::grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

[mvd]

58. All the more reason NOT to have a Repuke Congress

Boehner's already rich. Let him try working longer for benefits. If we could just get our message together, we'd have a TON of stuff to use for the fall.

[Change Happens]

63. Ok, if this is done over the next 50 years...Otherwise, I like Volker's proposal:

Increase the retirement age by one month per year...A total of 15 months in 15 years. Not a bad plan at all.

[SharonAnn]

100. We already did that under Reagan. The GOP just stole the money.

They'll do it again.

They lie. Over and over again. It's all about taking your money and giving it to the wealthy.

[damntexdem]

67. Lift or eliminate the FICA tax wage cap.

And stop making it harder to get the Social Security workers have earned.

[David__77]

68. LIFT THE CAP!!!!

Stupid Democrats. Politics needn't be so complicated.

[hedgehog]

70. Here's an idea - set the retirement age according to the job.

Nurses, waitresses, construction workers, janitors, hotel maids, etc get to retire at 45. US Senators don't get a pension until they're 95. Adjust the numbers for other jobs somewhere in between.

[The Croquist]

73. So what you are saying is it doesn't matter that the Federal Government reneges on it's deal with yo...

Some people get preferential treatment while others get the shaft at your discretion. Prey tell, exactly why do nurses, waitresses, construction workers, janitors and hotel maids get preferential treatment? Is it because they paid in more? No that can't be it. Is it because they wear uniforms? No that can't be it either.

How about cops, firemen and EMT's? Teachers, farm workers, day care providers? Come on, explain how you will rate the thousands of different job categories, maybe tens of thousands of job categories in rank of deserving of early retirement.

While you are at it please explain how you know exactly what someone does for a living. Somehow I suspect that peoples job descriptions may change depending on how early they get to retire. Also what if someone works for ten years as a construction worker and then switches careers? Are you going to prorate it or just choose the last career? If so, I see a bunch of people becoming a waitress at 44 years and 11 months. Speaking of which, is it just waitresses or do waiters get to retire at 45 too?

Just wondering...

[hedgehog]

74. My post was partly in jest and partly serious since it was

meant to point out that some jobs are so physically demanding that it is not practical to expect people to keep working until they are 70. My 81 year old Mom worked as a nurse and probably should have retired when she was 50. She is really worn out now. My 80 year old Dad is still working as a manufacturer's rep. He sets his own hours, goes out to see people on his schedule and works from home.

For all practical purposes, there is no way we can adjust Social Security retirement ages to reflect working conditions.

[divineorder]

92. I agree that it would be difficult to do

So my proposal would be an elder version of the old CETA. People 55 plus could transition into working with social services and community groups, and the Federal Government would pay them a living wage to do so, and if they continue to do so after retirement age, their Social Security would not be reduced by the amount of the wages. Community groups would get the experience and knowledge of elders, and people would not be left high and dry at either end for employment.

[LiberalFighter]

71. How about raising the retirement age to 75 for anyone...

that works or has worked in the federal government at management level or higher? And elected federal officials would qualify such as Boehner. They couldn't even draw from their congressional pension.

[RussBLib]

72. Here's another idea

STOP THE STUPID WARS and use THAT money to shore up Social Security. The headline I saw said Boner wanted to cut Social Security to pay for wars. God, I get sick of constant war.

Or raise the cap. Or raise the tax by a half a point.

[CatWoman]

77. sounds like another DEATH PANEL to me

:eyes:

[MrSlayer]

81. I like the means-testing idea, the others suck.

What need does someone like John McCain have for social security? If you have a certain net-worth, you don't need it and shouldn't get it.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

82. SSDD. why not end the wars, and quit screwing the elderly?

I like old people and I'm not so fond of war.

[ProudDad]

91. Thank you...

We not quite young any more people thank you...

We don't like war either...

But this more than "middle aged" guy likes Social Security...

[UpInArms]

85. Social Security is NOT an entitlement - this is a TRUST FUND - paid for

by taxpayers with FICA.

This "entitlement" bullshit is a LIE.

It makes me sick to hear this crap being spewed from the Shit-for-brains asswipes.

:puke:

[boppers]

101. It's a "Trust Fund" like Madoff's.

The money you put in is immediately given away, not invested or held. Sure, on paper, its still there.

Just like Bernie Madoff's account statements.

[hollowdweller]

86. Did he poll that statement before he said it??

Just saying. Might not be popular.

[ProudDad]

90. I guess this republican FUCK hasn't heard about

occupational injuries, outsourcing or age discrimination...

Those are the major reasons I started my Social Security check as soon as I could.

There were NO FUCKING JOBS for me out there...

asshole!

With a name like BONER he should be more careful... :nuke:

[Kringle]

93. Senate retirement age is ?? .nt

[Gene B]

97. Republicans only care about the rich

Since the rich do not rely on SS benefits, Republicans do not care about raising the minimum age, as the poor and the middle class will be affected.

[regnaD kciN]

98. "Means-testing benefits"...

While that sounds reasonable (after all, why should Donald Trump eventually get a Social Security check), it's really a poison pill. Once you have to be below a certain net worth/income level to get Social Security, it becomes merely a "welfare program for poor people" in the public's eye -- thus making it a lot easier to kill outright.