Republicans Archives

Social Security Commissioner’s Sketchy Sales Pitch to Congress

If Social Security Commissioner (and CEO of the IRS) Frank Bisignano brought anything with him from the corporate world, it is his ability to sell, sell, sell. At a June 10th hearing on Capitol Hill, the former Wall Street executive did his best to sell the fiction that EVERYTHING IS JUST GREAT at the Social Security Administration – despite massive understaffing, poor morale, and outright abuse of beneficiaries’ personal data. While House Ways and Means Committee Republicans responded to Bisignano’s testimony with complete credulity, Democrats and Social Security advocates would have appreciated -- pardon the pun -- a little more Frankness. And maybe even a smidge of humility.

NCPSSM2026-06-16T09:43:00-04:00June 12th, 2026|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Republicans|

Trump’s Medicaid Work Requirements Will Rob 5-10 Million of Health Coverage

Medicaid work requirements are coming for millions of people’s health care. This is thanks to Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill, which mandates that states institute work requirements in order for patients to enroll or maintain health coverage under Medicaid. Work requirements are projected to strip 5-10 million people of health insurance in the coming years. And for no good reason, other than Republicans’ ideological opposition to federal health care programs — and as a way to pay for Trump’s massive tax giveaway to the wealthy.

NCPSSM2026-05-01T14:15:15-04:00April 30th, 2026|Categories: Medicaid, President Trump, Republicans|

Tommy Tuberville Thinks Your Social Security Benefits are a Scam

Last week, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) showed a blatant disregard for 1.2 million of his constituents who depend on Social Security when he called the program a “scam” in a viral X post. The outburst drew immediate backlash from seniors’ advocates, Democrats, and local media in his home state of Alabama.

Lucas Kaplan2026-04-27T20:02:41-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Categories: Republicans, Senate, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump Administration|

GOP Senators Face Key Test on Health Care Affordability

Last week, the House of Representatives took a bold step towards averting huge increases in Americans’ health care premiums, passing a bill that would extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for three years. The measure succeeded thanks to YES votes from all House Democrats and 17 House Republicans, who openly defied GOP Speaker Mike Johnson.

Lucas Kaplan2026-01-16T16:26:56-04:00January 13th, 2026|Categories: affordable care act, Congress, Older Americans, President Trump, Republicans|

What Does the End of the Shutdown Mean for Older Americans?

As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history finally ends, many of our readers are asking: what does this deal mean for older adults? We supported Democratic efforts to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies. Without Congressional action to extend these subsidies, millions of “near seniors”— aged 54 to 65— are poised to face dramatically higher health insurance premiums in 2026.

Lucas Kaplan2025-11-13T14:54:37-04:00November 13th, 2025|Categories: affordable care act, Congress, Democrats, GOP, Medicare, Older Americans, Republicans|

Trump & GOP Intransigence Will Hike Health Care Premiums

Open enrollment season for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans arrives amid a severe threat from Trump and congressional Republicans —- who continue to block the extension of crucial ACA premium subsidies. These subsidies have helped middle and lower-income Americans afford health coverage since they were enacted during the Covid pandemic. This is what the government shutdown — now in its fifth week — is all about. Democrats insist that the subsidies be extended; Trump and the GOP have refused, despite the economic pain and health insecurity their actions will inflict on everyday Americans – including millions of MAGA voters. The president and his party won’t even negotiate with Democrats to end the shutdown.

Lucas Kaplan2025-11-06T15:05:23-04:00November 6th, 2025|Categories: affordable care act, Aging Issues, Congress, President Biden, President Trump, Republicans|

Hopes that Senate Would Mitigate Medicaid & SNAP Cuts Have Been Dashed

Many who analyzed the reconciliation bill narrowly approved by the House of Representatives in a 215-214 vote on May 22nd hoped that the U.S. Senate would temper unaffordable tax cuts for the wealthy — and avoid slashing Medicaid and SNAP. Those hopes have been dashed by Senate Republicans on the Finance and Agriculture Committees, who propose to end Medicaid and SNAP as we know them – as lifelines for millions of Americans across the country who need reliable access to basic health care and food to survive.

NCPSSM2025-06-20T13:07:40-04:00June 20th, 2025|Categories: Medicaid, President Trump, Republicans, Senate|

The Devastating Consequences of GOP Medicaid Cuts

House Republicans have taken another major step toward gutting the Medicaid program to pay for tax cuts largely benefitting their wealthy donors. On May 14, the GOP-controlled House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved budget legislation that slashes Medicaid funding by a jaw-dropping $717 billion over the next decade. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the Republican budget could strip health coverage from at least 13.7 million people. “Republicans are cutting them adrift, with no place else to turn for medical care except perhaps the emergency room,” says NCPSSM President Max Richtman, who labeled it “the most massive cut in Medicaid’s 60-year history.”

NCPSSM2025-05-16T23:24:03-04:00May 16th, 2025|Categories: Budget, Medicaid, Republicans|

Seven Falsehoods in Senator Mike Lee’s Social Security Post

Earlier this week, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) posted an extensive – and patently ridiculous – diatribe against Social Security on X (formerly Twitter). The thread is full of falsehoods and misleading assertions about America’s most popular social insurance program. Senator Lee incorporates many tired myths that the political right propagates to undermine a successful government program they can’t stand – simply because it is a successful government program.

Walter Gottlieb2024-12-04T17:07:23-04:00December 4th, 2024|Categories: Republicans, Senate, Social Security|

Harris Likely to Sustain Biden’s Social Security, Medicare, Rx Drug Policies

As we have noted many times, the President has fought especially hard for American seniors --- by lowering prescription drug prices, strengthening Medicare, and advocating improvements to Social Security --- which is why he earned our endorsement in June. His heir apparent, Vice President Harris, has been in lockstep with President Biden on these crucial issues.