Along with powerful speakers from across the Democratic party (and even some Republicans), heartfelt personal testimonials, and a music-infused roll call, Social Security and Medicare played a prominent role during this week’s convention in Chicago. Democrats hammered home the message that Kamala Harris will protect senior’s earned benefits while Donald Trump and Project 2025 pose a clear threat to Social Security and Medicare (despite Trump’s mixed-messages on the subject).
“We’re not going back” became the rallying cry at the convention, which Harris employed in her acceptance speech to warn voters that a second Trump administration would undermine Americans’ retirement and health security::::
“We are not going back to when Donald Trump tried to cut Social Security and Medicare. We are not going back to when he tried to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.” – Kamala Harris, 8/22/24
During his presidency, Trump submitted White House budgets that included billions of dollars in cuts to Social Security and Medicare. He tried unsuccessfully to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He suspended the Social Security payroll tax and hoped it would be “terminated.” This year, he said he was “open” to “cutting entitlements” and proposes to eliminate the tax on Social Security benefits which helps to fund the program.
By contrast, Harris pledged in her speech to “protect Social Security and Medicare” — a salient promise that squarely aligns with public opinion. In recent polling, some 80% of Americans across party lines do not want to see Social Security and Medicare cut. In fact, majorities want to see Social Security expanded by having the wealthy contribute their fair share.
Other VIP speakers reinforced Harris’ promise throughout the week:::
“As President, Kamala will fight to lower the cost of health care and eldercare for EVERY family.” – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI)
“For workers striving for a secure retirement, Kamala will fight for you.” – Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC)
“I had two incredible grandparents who stepped in and raised me. When I work to protect Medicare and social security, I do it with a personal knowledge of what those big programs meant in small but deeply meaningful ways to our family.” – Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-IL)
Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz offered his own testimonial about Social Security. His father died of lung cancer when Walz was 19, leaving the family with a “a mountain of medical debt” — but Social Security kept them from falling into poverty. In his acceptance speech Wednesday night, Walz said simply, “Thank God for Social Security survivor benefits!”
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare was represented at the convention by political director Luke Warren, director of government relations and policy Dan Adcock, and president/CEO Max Richtman — who was selected to serve on the Democratic Platform Committee.
“This obviously was a historic convention and it was exciting to be there. I think that what’s remarkable is that Social Security and Medicare, which we have been telling Democrats for years are winning issues, were very much in the mix,” says Dan Adcock, who has attended every Democratic convention since 2004. “In past conventions, seniors’ programs were hardly mentioned at all. But this time, they were prominent in the speeches of both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”
NCPSSM’s Dan Adcock & Max Richtman in Chicago
NCPSSM President and CEO Max Richtman spoke at the DNC Seniors’ Council meeting in Chicago on Wednesday, echoing Harris’ commitment to improving Social Security’s finances by adjusting the payroll wage cap that currently exempts wages above $168,600, depriving the program of much-needed revenue:
“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz support extending the solvency of Social Security’s trust fund — and boosting Social Security benefits. They also believe the wealthy should pay their fair share in Social Security payroll contributions.” – Max Richtman, 8/21/24
Richtman pointed out that seniors are an important voting bloc who reliably show up at the polls. An Emerson College survey released on Thursday show Harris gaining ground over Trump among older Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. According to Newsweek, “The majority of voters over 70 support Harris over Trump, 51% to 48%. (This) represents a major breakthrough for Harris.”
“Close elections can turn on how the largest and most dependable age group votes. Seniors know – or should know — that Democrats will go to the mat for them,” Richtman told the Seniors’ Council.