Mike Johnson says Republicans aren't talking about reducing a single benefit. They're talking about eliminating fraud and inefficiency.
Here is what Republicans are actually talking about, on the record, this week.
Johnson himself told the Moon Griffon Show that entitlement programs "have to be adjusted and fixed" and that "desperate times call for desperate measures." Ron Johnson said he'll hold the Speaker to his promise to "tackle" Social Security if Republicans keep the majority. Rand Paul is calling for a bicameral committee. Sen. John Curtis is already holding town halls in Utah floating the idea of raising the retirement age.
The Social Security trustees' report warns beneficiaries would see monthly checks cut by 22 percent in 2032 without action. That's the documented problem. The documented Republican response is a Speaker calling for adjustments, a senator promising to hold leadership to tackling it, and town halls about which levers constituents could support.
Josh Hawley - a Republican - said it plainly: "Addressed? Reformed? That's usually code for cut. I'm not in favor of that."
Anonymous Republican senators are telling reporters they don't want to walk the plank alone. They remember 2005. They remember 2006.
Johnson's post says don't believe the fake news. The fake news in this case is the Speaker's own radio interview, his colleagues' on-record statements, and a trustees' report with a specific date and a specific percentage attached to it.
Don’t believe the FAKE NEWS. When Republicans talk about fixing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, we are not talking about reducing a single benefit.
We’re talking about eliminating hundreds of billions in FRAUD and inefficiencies that are draining the programs and threatening their sustainability.
The duty of Congress is to address the problems so we can PRESERVE the essential benefits that are relied upon by the American people.
thehill.com/homenews/senate/…