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As part of his ambitious proposal to reduce government spending, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott has “put it in black and white” that he opposes phasing out Social Security and Medicare.
Scott modified his Rescue America plan on Friday to remove Social Security, Medicare, national security, and veterans’ benefits from his proposal to sunset federal programs every five years and require Congress to enact legislation to reauthorize them.
In an op-ed published by the Washington Examiner on Friday, Scott wrote: “That pillar of my Rescue America plan was obviously not intended to include entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security — programs that hard-working people have paid into their entire lives — or the funds dedicated to our national security.”
Scott continued, “Since the people up here are obviously too confused and dishonest to comprehend, I’ll write it down so they can read it or have someone read it to them.”
“I believe that all government laws should expire in five years, with the exception of Social Security, Medicare, national security, and veterans’ benefits. Congress can enact a law again if it is worthy of preservation, he explained.
Scott’s initial plan never explicitly called for an end to Social Security and Medicare, but prior to the adjustments he made on Friday, a website devoted to his Rescue America proposal specifically excluded these programs.
In his State of the Union address earlier this month, President Biden appeared to criticize Scott’s idea, infuriating Republicans who claimed Biden was distorting the program or unfairly accusing Republicans of supporting Scott’s plan.
In the midst of an outburst from the Republican side of the House floor, Biden asserted, “Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to expire.”
“I’m not saying it’s a majority,” Biden continued in response to Republican heckling.
At this month’s State of the Union address, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) suggested that Scott’s plan would seek to end popular entitlement programs, and he denied it.
“This is not a Republican strategy. That was Rick Scott’s strategy, Senator McConnell told a Kentucky radio station.
“It’s a terrible concept. McConnell continued, “I believe it will be difficult for him [Scott] to address this issue during his re-election campaign in Florida, the state with the highest proportion of senior citizens in the United States.”
In his editorial, Scott criticized McConnell for misinterpreting his Rescue America program.
“I have never advocated for cuts to Social Security or Medicare. To claim otherwise is a dishonest Democratic lie from a president who is extremely confused. And Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) is well aware of this as well. It’s the kind of politics Washington is known for,” Scott remarked.
»Rick Scott revises plan to omit Social Security and Medicare«
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