About NCPSSM

The National Committee is dedicated to protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits for all communities and generations.

Today is the Day Millionaires Stop Contributing to Social Security for 2023

Today is the day most millionaires stop paying into Social Security for the rest of the year, while most of us will continue contributing FICA payroll taxes through the end of December.  The payroll tax cap for 2023 is $160,200 in annual wages.  As of today, people grossing $1,000,000 a year in wages have now exceeded the cap. 
2023-02-28T12:05:17-04:00February 28th, 2023|Categories: Joe Biden, Payroll Tax Cap, payroll taxes, Rep. John Larson, Social Security|

GOP Takeover, Debt Ceiling Revive Some Really Bad Ideas

Republican proposals to cut taxes for the wealthy and undermine Social Security and Medicare have come back like a bad dream with the GOP takeover of the House and the debt ceiling standoff. We spoke to our senior legislative representative, Maria Freese, about what these proposals would really do --- and who they benefit. Hint: the answer is NOT working people and retirees.
2023-02-08T17:17:45-04:00January 27th, 2023|Categories: COLAs, Democrats, GOP, healthcare, Kevin McCarthy, Medicare, Republicans, Retirement, Senate, Social Security|

Republicans Are Playing With Fire – and Seniors’ Earned Benefits – By Risking Default

Today’s breaching of the debt ceiling by the U.S. government is making seniors’ advocates nervous.  The federal government is now on track to default on its financial obligations (including the ability to make Social Security and Medicare payments) as early as June --- unless Congress raises the debt ceiling, which it has done 78 times since 1960.  As CNN's Jake Tapper put it, "Republicans are vowing to cut future spending before agreeing to pay bills that are already due."
2023-02-03T12:32:29-04:00January 19th, 2023|Categories: Budget, Congress, Debt, Kevin McCarthy, Medicaid, Medicare, President Biden, Social Security|

McCarthy Speakership Battle May Cost Seniors in the Long Run

Kevin McCarthy’s battle for the House speakership may have made for compelling political theater this week, but it has potentially dire implications for America’s seniors.  According to news reports, McCarthy (R-CA) has made concessions to holdout House members that would empower right-wingers in Congress who want to slash Social Security and Medicare --- in order to fulfill his personal ambition to become Speaker.
2023-01-06T17:04:45-04:00January 6th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Medicare, Republicans, Social Security|

Does New Hill Spending Deal Affect Social Security & Medicare?

Congressional negotiators have struck a compromise on spending for Fiscal Year 2023, avoiding a government shutdown this Friday.  The House and Senate are expected to pass a short-term extension by the end of this week, giving negotiators more time to finish a final funding package for the rest of the fiscal year.  We spoke with NCPSSM legislative director Dan Adcock about the compromise deal.

NCPSSM President Busts Social Security Myths at Sen. Harkin’s Forum

Some of the nation’s leading Social Security experts gathered in Des Moines, IA on Wednesday to discuss the future of a program buffeted by serious financial and political challenges. The forum, Get Your Roadmap to Retirement, was presented by the Harkin Institute at Drake University and moderated by former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (who also chairs the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare advisory board).  NCPSSM President and CEO Max Richtman was among the experts on the panel.
2022-12-09T11:51:53-04:00December 8th, 2022|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Max Richtman, Social Security|

The Warnock-Walker Runoff Isn’t Just About the Size of the Democrats’ Senate Majority

While it’s true that a runoff win by Senator Raphael Warnock would give the Democrats a 51-50 majority, there is more at stake for Georgia voters – especially seniors.  They need Senator Warnock to remain in the Senate to fight for their vital Social Security and Medicare benefits – and to continue advocating for lower prescription drug prices.
2022-12-02T15:48:30-04:00December 2nd, 2022|Categories: Election 2022, GOP, Medicare, Senate, Social Insurance|

Bloomberg Analysis Frames Social Security and Medicare as Debt Reduction Issues. That’s Misleading.  

Fiscal conservatives continue to promote the narrative that Social Security and Medicare must be “reformed” to reduce the federal debt, which basically means cutting seniors' earned benefits. The latest foray in this propaganda campaign came in the form of an ‘analysis’ piece from Bloomberg’s Karl W. Smith, published last week in the Washington Post.

Speaker Pelosi’s Legacy Includes Historic Legislation for Seniors

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who declared Thursday that she will not seek a leadership position in the next Congress, has been lauded as a master of legislative procedure, a unifier of her caucus, a skilled tactician – and as someone who broke the “marble ceiling” for women in the halls of Congress.
2022-11-18T16:59:04-04:00November 18th, 2022|Categories: Congress|
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