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Republican lawmakers heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address after he accused some GOP members of wanting to target entitlement programs for spending cuts during debt ceiling negotiations. Biden seemed to be referring, in part, to a proposal introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) that would require Congress to renew Social Security and Medicare every five years. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy denied that cuts to the entitlement programs are on the table.
As Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey argues, some Republicans have suggested cuts to the programs in the past, including former President Donald Trump.
The Washington Post says, and I quote, “House Republicans have started to weigh a series of legislative proposals targeting Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs, part of a broader campaign to slash federal spending that could force the new majority to grapple with some of the most difficult and delicate issues in American politics.”
Huffington Post: “House Republicans are making it clear they intend to seek cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare with their new majority in the 118th Congress.”
The list goes on and on but here’s the kicker. Biden should have at least been prepared to remind Marjorie Taylor Greene and the rest of the Republicans who acted baffled by this proclamation from Biden.
Former President Donald Trump. 2021. His budget proposed a net cut of $480 billion from Medicare and $24 billion from Social Security. In the 2020 budget proposal, it would have cut $575 billion from Medicare, $26 billion from Social Security.
2019: He proposed cutting $554 billion for Medicare and $72.5 billion from SSDI and supplemental security income.
What about the 2018 budget proposal? Well, that just eliminated $70 billion. That’s what they wanted. Right. Republicans are on record here for clearly proposing cuts, agreeing that it should be cut. And the fact that somehow they get to act as if that never happened is stunning. But you’re smarter than that.
All right. I just gave you the facts.
