Congress Archives

Sorry, Slate Magazine, We Don’t Need to ‘Radically Rethink’ Social Security

Conservative think tanks and publications have been very busy this fall pumping out propaganda designed to undermine Social Security. Of course, the conservative movement has been working to weaken or eliminate the program since the 1980s, and its messaging seeps quite seamlessly into the mainstream media narrative about Social Security. A recent opinion piece in Slate magazine is the latest example of anti-Social Security propaganda from the political right.

Walter Gottlieb2023-11-27T12:52:14-04:00November 22nd, 2023|Categories: Boost Social Security, Congress, Equal Time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Social Security|

NCPSSM President Testifies Against Fiscal Commission Proposal

NCPSSM president Max Richtman offered testimony today to the U.S. House Budget Committee, warning that the creation of a fiscal commission to address the federal debt could jeopardize Social Security and Medicare benefits.

NCPSSM2023-10-19T16:12:53-04:00October 19th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, fiscal commission, Medicare, Social Security|

Would a Government Shutdown Affect Social Security and Medicare?

First, the good news. Even if the government shuts down at the end of this week because of House Republican intransigence, Social Security benefits will continue to be paid and customer service for retirees should not get significantly worse. Now, the bad news. The impending shutdown is symptomatic of a disorder in Congress that seniors should care about: MAGA hardliners once again gumming up the works of a government which best serves the public when operating smoothly, without needless disruptions.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-26T11:53:16-04:00September 25th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Disability, GOP, Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

House GOP Spending Proposal Would Slash Social Security Administration Funding

We don’t know exactly what the impact of any cut will be on SSA, but we do know they have already requested an increase of $727 million above current funding, as a minimum, for FY 2024. Without this level of funding, they will be forced to reduce staffing and overtime, which will hurt the agency’s ability to serve the public. Without that minimum level of funding, SSA’s customers will wait significantly longer for field office services, disability decisions, and phone support, and their already significant backlogs would increase.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-18T15:41:28-04:00September 18th, 2023|Categories: Budget, Congress, Republicans, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

It’s Time to Repeal WEP & GPO, Says NCPSSM & National Task Force

NCPSSM participated in an event on the Capitol Grounds Wednesday to call for the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset( GPO), which prevent millions of public employees and their families from collecting full Social Security benefits. The event was organized by the National WEP/GPO Repeal Task Force --- a coalition of advocates representing public sector workers.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-14T11:58:16-04:00September 14th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Max Richtman, Social Security, WEP & GPO|

FDR’S Grandson Says This Is a ‘High Stakes Time’ For Social Security

Social Security — which turned 88 years old this month — is one of my grandfather’s greatest legacies. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a high stakes time for his landmark program. Powerful opponents of Social Security are calling for privatization, cutting the annual COLA, raising the retirement age, and even “sunsetting” the program.

NCPSSM2023-09-12T13:17:14-04:00August 22nd, 2023|Categories: Congress, Election 2024, Social Security|

Marking the First Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act

President Biden signed the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law one year ago today. It was the first time Congress

NCPSSM2023-08-11T16:45:07-04:00August 16th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Don't Cut Pills Cut Profits, Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare, Prescription Drug Prices|

Rep. Larson Re-introduces His Social Security 2100 Act & Other Top News of the Week

It’s been a busy week for Social Security watchers and advocates. Here are some of the major developments from Washington, D.C.:

Walter Gottlieb2023-07-17T10:35:56-04:00July 14th, 2023|Categories: Boost Social Security, Congress, Rep. John Larson, Republicans, Senate, seniors, Social Security|

Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal Averts Disruption of Social Security, Medicare

Amid all the static about the debt ceiling deal that President Biden and Speaker McCarthy struck over the weekend, this much is certain: the deal is better for American seniors than a federal default. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means no one got everything they wanted,” said President Biden on Monday. “But that's the responsibility of governing.”

NCPSSM2023-06-01T09:28:42-04:00May 30th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Debt Ceiling, Democrats, GOP, President Biden|

Default Could Be Devastating to Seniors on Fixed Incomes

As the country nears a projected federal default date as early as June 1, experts and advocates are warning that seniors’ benefits could be in jeopardy. A default mean that the government will not be able to meet its financial obligations, resulting in delays for vital programs like Social Security and Medicare.