Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) appears on Meet The Press along with ideological opposite Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), as Cassidy continues to warn against maintaining the nation’s status quo on entitlements. Cassidy says the political spectrum is currently dominated by politicians — Democrats and Republicans alike — who refuse to commit to making hard, necessary choices on Social Security.
It’s a refusal, he says, that will cost Americans dearly. “This is what we should be focused on,” Cassidy says.
Senator Cassidy’s pinned tweet, unchanged since March 2, signals his priorities, warning that imminent Social Security insolvency gets worse each day it goes unaddressed by lawmakers who treat it as a politically dangerous third rail. Cassidy, positioning himself as a realist, says those politicians “who choose to do nothing support cutting benefits by 24% for all beneficiaries.”
The longer we wait to address Social Security insolvency, the larger and more expensive the solution becomes. Those who choose to do nothing support cutting benefits by 24% for all beneficiaries.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) March 2, 2023
Among those choosing to do nothing in Cassidy’s view is President Biden. Biden, Cassidy says, is “choosing a 24 percent reduction” by acting as if the underfunded program is secure.
We must choose to enact a plan that will save, secure, & strengthen Social Security. President Biden is choosing a 24% cut. https://t.co/zXoxJkpS0m
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) April 15, 2023
But Cassidy isn’t just calling out Democrats for what he characterizes as irresponsible fiscal policy on entitlements. The Senator is taking on all politicians — Republican or Democrat — who, in currying votes, issue statements that call the Social Security program untouchable. (Note: Social Security is extremely popular, people want to hear it won’t be changed.)
Cassidy’s line of fire hits not just Biden but also former President Donald Trump and presumed GOP Trump challenger, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Biden and Trump have the same plan,” Cassidy writes, “do nothing and subject all Americans to cuts.”
Biden & Trump have the same plan – do nothing & subject all Americans to cuts.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) April 14, 2023
The “consequences of leaving Social Security ‘w/out any changes,’ as promised by Biden-Trump, are dire.”
In 9 years, there will be an automatic 24% cut to Social Security. https://t.co/kHoopYo1ln
Cassidy told WKNOE that “under current law, Social Security is taking a 24% cut. A 24% cut to people already seeing it in anywhere from 8-10 years. My lifetime. The lifetime of most people receiving it.”
“Joe Biden, frankly, former President Trump, their plan is no,” Cassidy said. “They are saying nothing needs to be fixed, and they are not being truthful with the American people because there is going to be a 24% cut.”
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