Kevin McCarthy Says GOP Committed to Strengthening Social Security and Medicare; White House Says Otherwise

Ahead of an upcoming meeting with President Joe Biden over the debt ceiling, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Sunday that the cuts for Medicare and Social Security were "off the table."

McCarthy told CBS' "Face the Nation" that he wanted to take cuts to Medicare and Social Security off the table in talks with Biden over the debt ceiling.

While the Republicans wanted spending cuts as part of a deal to raise the debt limit, he noted that the GOP did not want to target those two specific programs.

During the interview, McCarthy said, "Let's take those off the table. If you read our Commitment to America, all we talk about is strengthening Medicare and Social Security. So... I know the president says he doesn't want to look at it, but we've got to make sure we strengthen those."

The House Speaker noted that the GOP wanted commitments to spending reductions in exchange for raising the debt limit. However, it remained unclear what precisely the Republicans would be willing to cut.

However, according to The Hill, the White House refuted McCarthy's claims they wanted to "strengthen" Medicare and Social Security programs.

The White House noted that the Republicans have wanted to cut earned benefits for years, adding that congressional Republicans have advocated for slashing earned benefits using "Washington code words like 'strengthen.'"

In an emailed statement sent to The Hill, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said that GOP's policies would privatize Medicare and Social Security, raise the retirement age, and cut benefits.

The White House went on to say that the only option House Republicans have to save the entitlement programs is to make budget cuts as they have already ruled out raising more revenue from tax increases on the rich.

Social Security and Medicare Budget Cuts

Last week, the Washington Post reported that a group of Republican lawmakers had asked for the creation of special panels that might recommend changes to Social Security and Medicare.

Others in the Republican party had come forward with more detailed plans to cut costs and raise the Social Security retirement age to 70.

Rep. Kevin Hern, the leader of the Republican Study Committee, noted that they have no choice "but to make hard decisions." Hern added that everybody has to look at everything.

Former President Donald Trump on Friday warned to avoid cutting "a single penny from Medicare or Social Security."

On the other hand, Democrats said millions of Americans could see their benefits cut under the new House GOP majority. However, Biden said he will not be opening negotiations for such a deal with Republicans.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that Biden believes the debt ceiling should be addressed "without conditions."

Kevin McCarthy Meeting With President Joe Biden

A White House official confirmed that Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy will meet for the debt ceiling.

The Treasury Department continues to impose extraordinary measures to keep the government paying its bills after the U.S. hit the debt ceiling set by Congress.

McCarthy noted that he aims to find a "reasonable and responsible way" that they can lift the debt ceiling while also controlling runaway spending.

A spokesperson said in a statement to CNN that Biden will remind the House Speaker of his "Constitutional obligation to prevent national default" in the meeting.

The president will also reportedly ask for the speaker's plan while highlighting that the "economic security of all Americans" cannot be sacrificed." McCarthy is set to meet with Biden on Wednesday.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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