November 28,2023

Wyden Urges House Republicans to Take Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Cuts Off the Table in Fiscal Commission Proposal

Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement ahead of tomorrow’s House Budget Committee hearing on legislative proposals to establish fiscal commissions that would allow fast track cuts to earned benefit programs like Social Security and Medicare:

“Speaker Johnson lost all credibility on the deficit when he passed a $27 billion giveaway to wealthy tax cheats in his first act as speaker. For years, Johnson has been one of the loudest Republican voices calling for cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and the ideas he has championed would end Medicare as we know it. The proposals advanced by House Republicans would fast-track cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and allow a handful of legislators and unelected political insiders to trade away Americans’ earned benefits in a secretive, closed-door process.

“If the wealthy paid their fair share, Social Security and Medicare would be fiscally sound. Democrats have put forward a long list of proposals to strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while protecting families earning less than $400,000. No one should be trying to claw back Americans’ earned Social Security and Medicare benefits while billionaires are paying an average tax rate of eight percent. I urge Speaker Johnson to take Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid off the table as part of any proposed fiscal commission.”

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