Watch Mike Lee Pledge to Destroy Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Here.
Washington DC — Last night, President Biden delivered his State of the Union Address, where he highlighted Republican attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Shortly after the speech, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) claimed that President Biden had “mischaracterized” Republican attempts to cut these vital programs. In reality, Mike Lee has been leading the pack when it comes to slashing benefits for seniors, famously saying “It will be my objective, to phase out Social Security, to pull it up by the roots and get rid of it…Medicare and Medicaid are of the same sort and need to be pulled out.” In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“Republicans are shameless when it comes to lying about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to the American people. Lawmakers like Mike Lee cannot rewrite history. The GOP has repeatedly aimed to slash benefits for seniors in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. Just days ago, Congressional Republicans publicly stated they were still looking at Social Security and Medicare cuts as part of debt ceiling negotiations. Let’s be clear: the GOP plan to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security would be devastating to millions of people and is an attack against the most vulnerable Americans, including people of color, rural families, and low-income seniors. Fortunately, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are dedicated to not only protecting these vital programs, but expanding them to lower costs and improve care for our nation’s seniors.”
Republicans have been saying for months that they want to cut Social Security and Medicare:
HEADLINE: Some GOP lawmakers aren’t quite ready to take Medicare and Social Security out of the debt limit battle — even after Kevin McCarthy said the matter is ‘off the table’ [Insider, 2/6/23]
HEADLINE: Republicans’ plans to slash Social Security and Medicare are becoming clearer: ‘We have no choice but to make hard decisions’ [Insider, 1/25/23]
HEADLINE: House GOP eyes Social Security, Medicare amid spending battle [Washington Post, 1/24/23]
HEADLINE: Republicans Signal Cuts To Social Security, Medicare With New House Majority [Huffington Post, 1/9/23]
HEADLINE: GOP floats Medicare changes while ducking details [Axios, 11/3/22]
HEADLINE: Republicans, Eyeing Majority, Float Changes to Social Security and Medicare [New York Times, 11/2/22]
HEADLINE: Republicans eye using debt limit hike to overhaul entitlement programs if entrusted with majority [Fox News, 10/29/22]
HEADLINE: Entitlement, Spending Cap Plans Linked by GOP to Debt-Limit Deal [Bloomberg, 10/11/22]
HEADLINE: Sen. Johnson suggests ending Medicare, Social Security as mandatory spending programs [Washington Post, 8/3/22]