Conservatives are eager to use Republicans’ newfound control of the legislative and executive branches next year to overhaul Social Security. But so far, President-elect Trump is not publicly on board.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., became the latest on the Right to say he would press the matter when the 115th Congress convenes next year. The influential, conservative House Freedom Caucus, which he now leads, will begin examining proposals in January, his office confirmed.
Earlier this month Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, released a comprehensive proposal designed to make the underfunded program permanently solvent. Although he is the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee chairman, it is not an official committee product and does not, at least yet, have the backing of leadership.
“This is one of many Republican ideas put forward to strengthen the program, and we appreciate Congressman Johnson’s leadership,” Ryan spokeswoman Ash Lee Strong said about Johnson’s plan.
“Chairman Brady appreciates Congressman Johnson’s commitment to having a thoughtful conversation on this issue and sees the proposal as one of many ideas to address the challenges facing Social Security,” said Lauren Aronson, spokeswoman for Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
But Ryan has suggested he is committed to moving legislation through regular order, which could give Johnson’s bill a leg up.
House Republican leaders are eager to kick off the new Congress by focusing on areas of agreement with Trump. They have already said their first order of business will be repealing the Affordable Care Act.
“I wouldn’t say we disagree on entitlements,” Ryan recently said of Trump during an appearance on Fox News. “We actually haven’t had a conversation about comprehensive entitlement reform,” said Ryan, who has long advocated for radical changes to the program.
Meadows’ spokesman Ben Williamson said it’s too soon to say which proposals will be on the House Freedom Caucus table. “We’re always open to looking at working with other proposals,” he said.
Equally unclear is how unwilling Trump is to touch politics’ “third rail.” On the campaign trail, Trump has sent conflicting messages, but doesn’t appear eager to enact the kind of benefit cuts some say are necessary to preserve the program.
His spokesmen did not respond to a request for comment about his plans for the retirement program.
Privately many Republicans note that he has seemingly changed positions on numerous issues since winning election and could do so on Social Security.
“I will do everything within my power not to touch Social Security, to leave it the way it is … and it’s my absolute intention to leave Social Security the way it is. Not increase the age and to leave it as is,” Trump said during a march GOP debate.
But in July, he seemed to indicate he might back some kind of change.
“We’re going to save your Social Security without killing it like so many people want to do,” Trump said.
His choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget may indicate a willingness to tackle Social Security and other entitlement programs.
Over the weekend, Trump tapped Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., as his budget chief. Mulvaney, a past House Freedom Caucus chairman, has proposed numerous cuts to overall government spending, and Social Security and Medicare.
Democrats were quick to point out the seeming ideological disparity between Trump and Mulvaney after Trump tapped him Sunday.
“If President-Elect Trump wishes to implement his economic agenda … it is surprising that he would choose someone like Rep. Mick Mulvaney,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in a statement.
“In Congress, Rep. Mulvaney has been among the most vocal opponents of government investment in our economy, promoting the kind of severe austerity measures like a ‘cut, cap, and balance’ scheme,” he said. “Rep. Mulvaney and House Republicans will soon be forced to reconcile these priorities with Mr. Trump’s proposed increases in spending.”
House moderates and Senate Republicans may not have an appetite to take on something as controversial as changing Social Security.
On Monday Ryan noted the long, uphill battle he has faced on the issue.
[T]he party really tried to isolate me a number of years ago,” Ryan told Milwaukee radio host Charlie Sykes. “And trying to explain to our members, ‘do not touch what Ryan is talking about, don’t deal with these fiscal issues, these entitlements, it’s political suicide,'” he said about proposals he drafted to overhaul programs such as Social Security and Medicare over the years.
The House is more likely to make changes to Medicaid and possibly Medicare before Social Security, experts note.
That’s because repealing Obamacare is Republicans’ top priority. Medicaid will have to be addressed as part of that because of the program’s expansion under the law. Similarly, there are implications for Medicare, which could lead lawmakers to take the opportunity to overhaul that massive program, said George Mason University’s Charles Blahous, who specializes in domestic economic policy and retirement security.
