Posted on 06/29/2010 8:23:18 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Top Republican: Raise Social Security's retirement age to 70 By Michael O'Brien - 06/29/10 10:50 AM ET
A Republican-held Congress might look to raise the retirement age to 70, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) suggested Monday.
Boehner, the top Republican lawmaker in the House, said that raising the retirement age by five year, indexing benefits to the rate of inflation and means-testing benefits would make the massive entitlement program more solvent.
"We're all living a lot longer than anyone ever expected," Boehner said in a meeting with the editors of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "And I think that raising the retirement age -- going out 20 years, so you're not affecting anyone close to retirement -- and eventually getting the retirement age to 70 is a step that needs to be taken."
The GOP leader said that Social Security was the most important entitlement to reform, though he also pledged that Republicans would bring legislation to the floor to repeal and replace the healthcare reforms passed earlier this year if the GOP wins back control of the House this fall.
But Boehner also floated several other reforms to Social Security, paired with raising the retirement age, to make it more solvent. Boehner said that benefits should be tied to increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) instead of wage inflation, and he suggested reducing or eliminating benefits to Americans with a "substantial non-Social Security income" while retired.
"We just need to be honest with people," he said. "I'm not suggesting it's going to be easy, but I think if we did those three things, you'd pretty well solve the problem."
Republican have made cutting spending and reforming entitlement programs a key part of their 2010 campaign message.
Watch the entirety of Boehner's explanation below:
I knew a person who was one of twelve children - and all the siblings were on Social Security Disability. The brothers and sisters suggested - to this person - to "go with mental" because it was harder to disprove. But the person I knew actually DID need disability and did it honestly. It was harder than for the others in the family... The youngest in the family ( of 12 ) was in his 20 's. Meaning social security could be paid for over 70 years. And for this I want honest workers to work UNTIL they're 70? No way.
Those who really are disabled better join with the rest of us... the dead-beats who game the system will sink it for citizens that are truly disabled - including your husband.
“...fact that there is NO LOCK BOX for the funds... nor will there ever be Ponzi schemes always divert the funds, look at the Bernie Madoff example, did he really own anything or was it all ill gotten gain? social security is the same way but administered by the government with all their efficiencies.
Look at the obit's lately? Baby-boomers are dropping like flies.
I think the whole "living longer" thing is a myth....perpetrated by gov. types and other elitists who like to control the message for THEIR benefit.
It’s easy to get SSI (Social Security Income). All one has to do is have themselves or their child “diagnosed” with ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder).
Says who?
They won't cut current seniors benefits because they vote on the issue, but instead will cut our future benefits while preserving our FICA taxes(that is all they are saving) .
You think voters would have went for the 1980s SS reform if they know FICA was a slush fund (which it had to be with a surplus)??? Are we that stupid again?? Probably YES because of massive immigration the past 10-15 years means there is no national memory of the 1970s and 1980s.
It could be worse I suppose, Democrats will demand that the FICA tax be increased on those that are completely mean tested out of the benefits, those making over 100K per year.
Why not just end the Progressive Socialist Communist scumbag program?
How stupid does stupid get? Let’s further manipulate it buy some time (but not really) and still have something that just doesn’t work.
We have to stand up, recognize most of FDR’s and any other Progressives policies have been dismal failures, take the hit and eliminate the scurge that is ultimately working to destroy our country.
Good observation. The left becomes the defender of seniors and their entitlements... right after they looted Medicare to pay for Obamacare. Amazingly this will probably work.
I am 68 years old and have never had the opportunity to vote on SS. I don't know who the he** you think you are talking about but it isn't anyone who is alive today. Not only that, SS was never voted on, it was implemented by the biggest socialist in history, FDR.
I worked hard when I was younger to try to get SS done away with gradually and turn it into private accounts, so that everyone was paying for themselves not for the people ahead of them. so take your BS crap talk somewhere else, dumbass, or at least learn what you are talking about and quit spouting sh** through your a** hole.
A phase-out/privatization plan is the best, along with a raise in the age.
The problem with Social Security, is that too many voters, even those who lean conservative, basically plug their ears and say “la-la-la-la-I-can’t-hear-you” when you discuss true, meaningful Social Security reform. That’s gonna be a tough nut to crack, but right now, with our huge deficits, it might be the time to try it.
“End it gradually. Let those who are 20+ years out get out of this ponzi scheme.”
Good luck. The benefits may be tapered off, but those who aren’t due to retire for 20 or more years yet will never escape paying into the system. Like you say, it’s a ponzi scheme, and someone always gets the shaft in the end.
Great idea. Now let’s get moving creating jobs. I’ve always figured I’d leave my job toes up anyway.
Did you fail to read the part where he said “down the road” and not those close to retirement?
Yeah, they will. But any fiscal reforms that don't address the entitlements are a waste of time, and at least the GOP is starting to realize it.
I've got a big problem with that one.
Let’s apply it to the political class first and, if it works there, we might try it.
The government needs to get out of the “retirement age/benefits” and let the people chart their own course. This garbage has gone on for too long.
I don't remember too many conservatives rallying to George Bush's call for a very limited privatization of social security. This was his first big issue after re-election. Instead, Bush twisted in the wind.
If you READ what he said, you would realize it wouldn’t affect you.
If hubby and I want the full amount he is promised we already have to wait until he is 70?
How so?
It's easy to call names and make unfounded claims.
Which part of his suggestions do you have a problem with? Better yet, what better suggestions do you have?
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