On 89th Anniversary of Social Security, Democrats Fight to Strengthen Program While MAGA Republicans Threaten Cuts

MADISON, Wis. — MAGA Republicans want to gut Wisconsinites’ hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits—a policy that would be devastating to the over 1.2 million Wisconsinites who rely on them. Senator Duey Stroebel introduced a bill to increase the retirement age and make changes to the Wisconsin Retirement System that would reduce retirement income for state employees, and Republican Senate Candidate Eric Hovde believes cuts to Social Security are “absolutely” needed.

Vice President Harris, President Biden, and Senator Tammy Baldwin are fighting to protect the retirement security of hard-working Wisconsinites. Democrats are focused on delivering for Americans by protecting Social Security, making health care more accessible and affordable by bolstering the Affordable Care Act, capping the cost of prescription drugs–including capping insulin at $35–and lowering premiums for generations to come.

“Under Donald Trump’s leadership, Republicans tried to make cuts to Social Security every year he was in office—and they are still dead-set on stripping Wisconsinites of their benefits,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Deputy Communications Director Haley McCoy. “Wisconsinites have earned their Social Security benefits, and Wisconsin Republicans like Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil have no right to take them away.”

It’s clear that Wisconsin Republicans will cut Social Security benefits:

• Senator Ron Johnson voted to raise the retirement age to 70 and supports an ultra-MAGA plan that would sunset Social Security in five years. Johnson doesn’t care if our seniors work for the rest of their lives, as long as he and his wealthy donors are taken care of.
• Derrick Van Orden introduced legislation that would lead to deep cuts to Social Security, threatening the earned benefits of millions of 1.2 million Wisconsinites.
• Bryan Steil targeted Social Security and Medicare for spending cuts. As a member of the Republican Study Committee, Steil endorsed a budget proposal that would raise the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare and privatize Social Security.
• The Republican Study Committee, which represents the majority of House Republicans — including Wisconsin Reps. Bryan Steil, Glenn Grothman, Scott Fitzgerald, and Tom Tiffany — proposed a plan to raise the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare and privatize Social Security.

GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde would also put Social Security on the chopping block. Hovde has said he “absolutely” wants to cut Social Security benefits, raise the retirement age, and cut lifelines for struggling families.

• Senators Duey Stroebel, Devin LeMahieu, and Chris Kapenga introduced a bill to increase the retirement age for state employees. The bill also changes the pension calculation formula from the three highest-paid years to five years, which would result in lower retirement income for state employees in most cases.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.