Eric Jones, a candidate for Congress in California’s 4th Congressional District, has just proposed a dangerous policy that would jeopardize the very existence of Social Security and Medicare.
The proposal, posted on his website, would “make every (federal) program earn its place with sunset reviews.” This practice, more commonly known as ‘sunsetting,’ could end the programs that American seniors, people with disabilities, and their loved ones rely on for basic retirement and health security.
Social Security and Medicare are mandatory programs. They are not supposed to be subject to the political whims of lawmakers who want to destroy or cut them. Jones’ proposal would open that door by requiring Social Security and Medicare to be periodically reauthorized. If not reauthorized, they could be cut or terminated. Look what happened to Medicaid and SNAP in Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill.
“Voters in California’s 4th District deserve a Member of Congress who will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, not someone who will put your earned benefits at risk,” said Max Richtman. “This is the first time I’ve seen a Democrat float a ‘sunsetting’ scheme like the one that Republican Senator Rick Scott proposed in 2023. Scott, who is no friend to Social Security or Medicare, rightly received significant blowback — because it’s a terrible idea.”
Social Security and Medicare are lifelines for millions of California seniors, providing the financial stability and health care security they have earned over a lifetime of hard work.
Eric Jones is running for Congress in California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes over 153,00 Social Security recipients and 263,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Social Security adds more than $3.4 billion a year to the local economy and Medicare provides approximately $4 billion in health care benefits to this community. If anything, these programs should be strengthened. The only thing that should be ‘sunsetted’ is Jones’ preposterous proposal.
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Luke Warren