Here come the GOP budget bills - with March 14 shutdown date approaching (2 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

The GOP in both the House and Senate have released their budget resolutions. Both aim to produce $1.5T to $2T in tax cuts- while slashing spending.

The Senate budget committee is hearing their resolution today and resolving over 200 proposed amendments.

The House has released their budge resolution:

- $4 Trillion debt-ceiling increase
- Defund Medicaid entirely (effectively)
- Reduce SNAP by 20%

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/12/congress/senate-budget-markup-begins-00203818

House GOP releases budget calling for trillions in cuts to taxes and spending

The blueprint conflicts with a Senate budget resolution, which doesn't address taxes or the debt ceiling. It also includes less funding than the Senate's for immigration enforcement.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[J-DONK]

You forgot to mention that would take our debt up to 132%-149% of the GDP.

It's ok. The deficit, and debt only matter under Democrat presidents.

 

[superchuck500]

Looks like it's setting up for the following factions:
1. MAGA and MAGA adjacent want massive bills with tax cuts that blow up the deficit
2. GOP deficit hawks and other outliers that appear to be digging in against this spending
3. Democrats who won't support anything without an anti-impoundment clause . . . which Republicans say they won't give.

This seems like a solid position for the Democrats - anti-impoundment already is the law and it is grounded in the Constitution. It's pretty high ground for them to stick to and see if the either the MAGA/Trump/Voldemusk intimidation apparatus will get the votes or if they will have to agree to a new very specific Trump-related anti-impoundment provision to get the votes.

 

[Saint Jack]

I’m asking this on behalf of a concerned family member because they’ve been observing Elon in the news.
Is Social Security/SSDI in danger of getting abolished?
Are their benefits/disability payments in danger?

 

[RobF]

I’m asking this on behalf of a concerned family member because they’ve been observing Elon in the news.
Is Social Security/SSDI in danger of getting abolished?
Are their benefits/disability payments in danger?

Here's an article from ProPublica on this from a few days ago:

Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In

Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.

www.propublica.org

I think the basic summary is:

Trump says "Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened."
There's also a plan to eliminate taxes on Social Security income (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/18/tru...ecurity-benefits-would-help-high-earners.html).

I think that reflects the political reality that just abolishing Social Security would be political suicide, even now.

But then you have Musk.

They've already been making (incorrect) claims of fraud, eliminated some jobs, closed some local offices.
The acting commissioner at SSA is a low-level guy called Leland Dudek, who'd been working with 'DOGE' before he was put in charge.
Frank Bisignano is the nominee for permanent commissioner, he's very much a business guy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Bisignano - and Trump supporter. He hasn't had any hearings yet I think.

I think it's hard to say how all that plays out, but my guess is that they're not going to outright cut Social Security benefits, but they're going to try to "make it more efficient", which is likely to involve more staff cuts and office closures, and make it harder to deal with. 'Fraud' targeting will probably make it a more hostile process, possibly for some more than others. I wouldn't be surprised to see AI used in the process, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the AI was biased and made things much harder for some groups relative to others.

So overall, it's a bit unpredictable because the people in charge are unpredictable zealots, but my take, at this point, is that I don't think people are typically likely to see benefits just cut and Social Security abolished. But I do think it's going to be made more difficult, and people will be impacted.

 

[Saint Jack]

Here's an article from ProPublica on this from a few days ago:

Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In

Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.

www.propublica.org

I think the basic summary is:

Trump says "Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened."
There's also a plan to eliminate taxes on Social Security income (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/18/tru...ecurity-benefits-would-help-high-earners.html).

I think that reflects the political reality that just abolishing Social Security would be political suicide, even now.

But then you have Musk.

They've already been making (incorrect) claims of fraud, eliminated some jobs, closed some local offices.
The acting commissioner at SSA is a low-level guy called Leland Dudek, who'd been working with 'DOGE' before he was put in charge.
Frank Bisignano is the nominee for permanent commissioner, he's very much a business guy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Bisignano - and Trump supporter. He hasn't had any hearings yet I think.

I think it's hard to say how all that plays out, but my guess is that they're not going to outright cut Social Security benefits, but they're going to try to "make it more efficient", which is likely to involve more staff cuts and office closures, and make it harder to deal with. 'Fraud' targeting will probably make it a more hostile process, possibly for some more than others. I wouldn't be surprised to see AI used in the process, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the AI was biased and made things much harder for some groups relative to others.

So overall, it's a bit unpredictable because the people in charge are unpredictable zealots, but my take, at this point, is that I don't think people are typically likely to see benefits just cut and Social Security abolished. But I do think it's going to be made more difficult, and people will be impacted.

Thanks.
My thinking was they aren’t gonna touch it mainly because it’s political suicide, like you said.
And right now, Trump is a lame duck president. And hypothetically, if SSI/SSDI gets cut, that hands the 28 election to the Dems.

And then there’s the effect on the midterms if they tried it now…

 

[bird]

Soooo…

For years the Republicans have claimed that government should be run like a business.

I have a question for them.

What business deliberately slashes their revenue?

The upshot is that they most certainly want to run government like a business and it appears that they have a couple of models in mind: Enron and Lehman Brothers.

 

[Saint Jack]

Here's an article from ProPublica on this from a few days ago:

Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In

Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.

www.propublica.org

I think the basic summary is:

Trump says "Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened."
There's also a plan to eliminate taxes on Social Security income (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/18/tru...ecurity-benefits-would-help-high-earners.html).

I think that reflects the political reality that just abolishing Social Security would be political suicide, even now.

But then you have Musk.

They've already been making (incorrect) claims of fraud, eliminated some jobs, closed some local offices.
The acting commissioner at SSA is a low-level guy called Leland Dudek, who'd been working with 'DOGE' before he was put in charge.
Frank Bisignano is the nominee for permanent commissioner, he's very much a business guy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Bisignano - and Trump supporter. He hasn't had any hearings yet I think.

I think it's hard to say how all that plays out, but my guess is that they're not going to outright cut Social Security benefits, but they're going to try to "make it more efficient", which is likely to involve more staff cuts and office closures, and make it harder to deal with. 'Fraud' targeting will probably make it a more hostile process, possibly for some more than others. I wouldn't be surprised to see AI used in the process, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the AI was biased and made things much harder for some groups relative to others.

So overall, it's a bit unpredictable because the people in charge are unpredictable zealots, but my take, at this point, is that I don't think people are typically likely to see benefits just cut and Social Security abolished. But I do think it's going to be made more difficult, and people will be impacted.

Sorry to keep going on this subject, but hypothetically if Trump wanted to abolish SSI/SSDI; wouldn’t that take more than his allotted term?

 

[bird]

Sorry to keep going on this subject, but hypothetically if Trump wanted to abolish SSI/SSDI; wouldn’t that take more than his allotted term?

A good question.

That being said a corrupt SCOTUS in combination with a gutless congress is little impediment to Trump’s stupidity.

 

[superchuck500]

Shenanigans!

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Shenanigans!

ZERO INTEGRITY.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Cue "The Honorable" SotH Mike Johnson to amend the "rules". I'd turn around and head to the floor!

 

[superchuck500]

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

I guess all that is left is for Sen Collins to express her concerns abut this bill.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Some student loan borrowers could see their payment plans increase by an average of $200 under new Republican budget plans.

Republicans in the House of Representatives are set to vote on a massive budget resolution this week that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in cuts to several federal programs, including Medicaid and student loans.

Some advocates say the resolution could have an outsized impact on some of the 42 million Americans with student loan debt, driving their payments up.

While the specifics of the resolution could change, the Institute for College Access and Success estimates that monthly student loan payments could increase by $200 for the average borrower.…..

US student loan repayments could increase by $200 under new GOP budget plans

Republicans are looking to cut $2 trillion in federal spending, which will include targeting student loan programs

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[Eeyore]

It's slightly amusing that they gathered to pray on the House floor after cutting Medicaid and snap.

 

[Dragon]

It's slightly amusing that they gathered to pray on the House floor after cutting Medicaid and snap.

Christians in name only...