FACT SHEET: Republican Senate Candidates’ Attacks on Social Security

DATE: January 31, 2024
TO: Interested Parties
FR: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
RE: FACT SHEET: Republican Senate Candidates’ Attacks on Social Security 

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On the anniversary of the first Social Security check being issued, Social Security remains under constant assault from Republican Senate candidates. 

“In 2024, voters will hold every Republican Senate candidate accountable for their party’s toxic agenda to gut Social Security and Medicare — spiking health care costs and ripping away the benefits hardworking Americans have earned throughout their lifetimes,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Tommy Garcia.

Here are the facts about Senate Republicans’ plan to end Social Security and Medicare and GOP Senate candidates’ promises to gut these vital programs.  

ARIZONA: 

• Kari Lake said “it’s time to fire the federal government,” a proposal that would mean no Social Security payments and Medicare for Arizonans. [Newsmax, 1:32, 8/9/22 (VIDEO)] [Arizona Republic, EJ Montini 8/12/22]
  

FLORIDA: 

• Rick Scott’s plan would put “an end to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid … and potentially more.” Scott has since “double[d] down on sunsetting even popular programs.” [Washington Post, 3/11/22] [Washington Post, 2/8/23]

MICHIGAN: 

• Peter Meijer said it was time to look “at our entitlements” because even if discretionary spending was curbed, Congress was still “spending far more than we’re taking in.”  [WJR JR Morning, 09:11, 11/7/23] (AUDIO)
  
  
• Sandy Pensler wanted to “reform entitlements… whose long term effects harm those they are intended to help.” [Pensler for Senate, Issues Page, 4/9/18]
  
  
• Mike Rogers said the country had to rethink “what retirement looks like” and “every option’s gonna have to be on the table” when he was asked about his plans for Social Security. [13:45, WMUR9, Conversation with the Candidate, 5/5/23]
  

NEVADA: 

• Sam Brown “praised Rick Scott for creating [a] ‘roadmap’ to sunset Medicare [and Social Security].” [American Independent, 8/2/23]

PENNSYLVANIA: 

• David McCormick called programs like Social Security and Medicare “unsustainable.” [PoliticsPA, 3/21/23] [Daily Beast, 4/5/22]

TEXAS:

• Ted Cruz called Social Security a Ponzi scheme, backed a “benefit cut” proposal, and called to “raise the [Social Security] retirement age.” [NPR, 3/12/16] [CBS News, 11/23/15] [FactCheck.Org, 10/19/17]

WISCONSIN: 

• Eric Hovde called for raising the retirement age for Social Security recipients. [45:45, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, YouTube, 7/19/12] (VIDEO)

NATIONALLY: 

• Roughly 67 million Americans receive Social Security. 

• Roughly 65 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare. 

Ahead of the 2023 Medicare anniversary, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) launched ads highlighting Senate Republicans’ attacks on Medicare and Social Security.

See also: American Journal News: Top Republican U.S. Senate candidates call for gutting Social Security.

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