http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/01/newest-sneak-attack-on-social-security-angers-a-few-dems/
On Tuesday, the House passed a bill “laying out the parliamentary rules” for 2015. Republicans quietly slipped a provision
into that bill which prevents shifting Social Security funds from the
retirement program to the disability program, an unremarkable shift that
has been common since the 1950s.
This GOP-backed provision is harmful to disabled Americans because
without shifting funds, a shortfall in the Social Security disability
program will occur by 2016. This shortfall is projected to cause a 20
percent decrease in benefits for 11 million recipients.
Leading GOP supporter of the damaging bill, Rep. Sam Johnson
(R-Texas), is the chairman of the Social Security subcommittee.
According to Johnson, shifting Social Security funds would be a “raid”
on retirement. However, the retirement program is solvent for the next
18 years.
“To address this issue, my measure creates a point-of-order to
prohibit any diversion of funds from the retirement program to the
disability program,” said Johnson. “But more than that, the rule seeks
to encourage much-needed reform.”
Johnson’s measure is egregious and steals money from people who rely on it to maintain a just livable lifestyle.
The secret provision has drawn the ire of Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown (OH) and Elizabeth Warren (MA). Brown argues that the same practice of shifting funds from retirement to disability is routine and never caused past harm.
“Reallocation has never been controversial, but detractors working to
privatize Social Security will do anything to manufacture a crisis out
of a routine administrative function,” said Brown.
Warren said on Twitter that “The GOP is inventing a Social Security
crisis that will threaten benefits for millions & put our most
vulnerable at risk.”
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