Demand MSNBC retraction of false info re: Social Security
Last week, Abby Huntsman, MSNBC news anchor and daughter of millionaire former Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, went on MSNBC’s “The Cycle” to spout anti-Social Security rhetoric.
Her talking points ranged from flawed life expectancy data to claiming that there would be “nothing left” in Social Security for her generation. The two solutions Huntsman offered were to either cut Social Security benefits by 20% or to raise the retirement age to 75.
These are the same talking points dreamed up by right-wing think tanks and used time and time again by politicians and Wall Street billionaires who are trying to create a phony generational war, pitting young against old.
When Huntsman says that our options are to either cut benefits or raise the retirement age (which is simply another form of a benefit cut), she ignores that today Social Security can pay out 100% of benefits through 2033 and 75% of benefits through 2087.
The simplest solution to the problem that Huntsman overstates is to ask millionaires and billionaires to start paying into Social Security at the same rate as the rest of us.This would not only allow Social Security to pay out 100% of benefits owed for the next 75 years, but could also result in a benefit increase by as much as $800 per year for the average recipient.
We won’t stand by and allow right-wing talking points to serve as legitimate evidence for the need to cut our earned benefits. Stand with Social Security Works today, as we fight to expand, not cut Social Security!
Thank you for all that you do.
Michael Phelan
Social Security Works
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Editor’s Note: The stated mission of Social Security Works, as found on its website, is to…
- Protect and improve the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations
- Safeguard the economic security of those dependent, now or in the future, on Social Security
- Maintain Social Security as a vehicle of social justice
Funding for Social Security Works comes from donations from the public and through a grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies. Social Security Works is guided by our Co-founders Eric Kingson and Nancy Altman (bios).
Alex Lawson– Executive Director
Michael Phelan– Deputy Director
Ben Veghte– Research Director (bio)
Molly Checksfield– Legislative Director
Lacy Crawford– Communications Director
Linda Benesch– Legislative and Policy Associate
Stephanie Connolly– Legislative and Policy Associate
More information about its work may be had by visiting the coalition website at www.strengthensocialsecurity.org.
