Congressman Andrews Plays 'Let's Make a Deal' with Social Security

Wednesday evening, Congressman Rob Andrews said on CNBC’s The Kudlow Report, “I would be willing to vote for a solution that has reasonable reductions in entitlements” (http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000206259).  For years, Andrews has championed the preservation of Social Security benefits, especially for seniors.  Now he wants to use Social Security reductions as a bargaining chip with House Republicans.

Congress should enhance not reduce Social Security.  In an era of the declining availability of pensions and a growing uncertainty associated with retirement accounts, Social Security serves as the lifeline for retirees.  This is why I support enhancing Social Security because seniors should be able to retire with a sense of financial security after a lifetime of hard work.

Instead of reducing benefits, Congress should raise the Social Security payroll tax cap from $113,700 to $250,000.  This increase would almost entirely close Social Security’s projected long-term funding gap without reducing benefits or increasing taxes on the vast majority of American workers, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

In these times of economic insecurity, Congress needs to ensure the financial security of seniors not reduce their benefits.  I am shocked Congressman Andrews doesn’t think this way anymore.  Maybe it’s time for a change.

MATTHEW HARRIS

Runnemede

Matthew Harris is challenging Congressman Rob Andrews in the June 2014 Democratic Primary