(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

House leaders are currently demanding “Social Security reform,” meaning cuts to Social Security benefits, as part of any spending and budgeting going forward, and they are coming squarely after seniors and retirees.

A so-called Social Security Commission (HR 281) is a way of sneaking into law radical reductions in Social Security benefits without debate or consideration. Congress seeks to use the U.S. debt crisis to make reforms, which will be devastating to American seniors and retirees.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy publicly stated Social Security cuts are “off the table,” but this so-called Social Security Commission is tied to debt reduction and other budgetary items. This commission is intended to recommend cuts no politician would ever propose in a straight forward bill.

Many on Capitol Hill believe the only way to reduce our nation’s debt is by cutting back Social Security benefits. They seek to establish a “commission” which recommends across-the-board benefit cuts, raising the retirement age, means testing, reducing COLAs (cost of living adjustments) and more taxes on benefits. They feel if these radical, unpopular policies are proposed by a Social Security Commission, Congress will approve them.

Social Security is a promise to hardworking Americans who worked a lifetime paying taxes, earning their benefits– in full — but many in Congress see it otherwise and seek to balance the budget by cutting Social Security, leaving their pet projects intact, and wish to use the Social Security Act (HR 281) as political cover out of public view.

Seniors and retirees can’t tolerate cuts in our benefits with runaway Bidenflation and slow economic recovery.

Washington politicians need made aware we are on to them and will fight back.

Other terrible reforms already before Congress are:

* Raising the full retirement age to 70. Senators Angus King of Maine and Bill Cassidy are spearheading the effort.

* Reducing COLAs, which are already woefully short of true costs.

* Means testing. The Cato Institute — the right wing DC think tank — last year stated “we are paying the most benefits to those who need it least.” This would turn Social Security into a welfare fund with bureaucrats deciding to whom the benefits would be paid and how much.

Everyone should contact their legislators and tell them to oppose HR 281.

The source of information is The Seniors Group for Social Security.

Steve Wolverton

Parkersburg