Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is outraged by House Republicans’ move to block a routine Social Security budgeting move to use as a bargaining chip in future entitlement reform negotiations.
On social media platforms Warren, in very clear terms, said the attempt by House Republicans to block the Social Security budgeting move that involves transferring revenues between the Social Security retirement trust fund and the Social Security disability program was flat out “ridiculous.”
“It’s ridiculous – but not surprising – that on the very first day of the new Congress, Republicans are manufacturing a Social Security crisis to threaten benefits for millions of disabled Americans – including 233,260 in Massachusetts alone,” Warren said on Facebook. “We can’t turn our backs on the promises we’ve made to our families, friends, and neighbors who need our help the most. House Republicans should stop playing political games to put America’s most vulnerable at risk.”
She struck a similar tone on Twitter.
The GOP is inventing a Social Security crisis that will threaten benefits for millions & put our most vulnerable at risk.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 6, 2015
This is ridiculous. 233k people in MA receive Social Security disability benefits that could be threatened by these political games.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 6, 2015
As TPM reported on Tuesday, one of the first moves of Republicans in the 114th Congress was to make a little-noticed rule change adding restrictions on the regular tax revenue transfer between the Social Security retirement trust fund and the Social Security disability program. Those transfers have historically been routine. Experts warned TPM that the move could spark a rare crisis which conservatives would likely try and use as a bargaining chip.