The midterm elections are less than two months away. President Donald Trump and the Republican Party control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives, but there is a slight possibility the Senate could shift to the Democrats and, at least according to current projections, even a stronger possibility the Democrats could take back the House. If that happens, and the Democrats control congress, what would their agenda be focused on? Some people believe one of the agenda item could include an expansion of Social Security benefits.
A recent opinion piece in the political website The Hill, authored by Nancy Altman and Alex Lawson, two Social Security advocates for the Social Security Works lobbying group, informed that the Democratic Party is supportive of a Social Security benefit expansion. According to the piece, 90 percent of Democrats in the Senate support Social Security expansion and a bill authored by Rep. John Larson, (D-Conn.) received support from 90 percent of Democrats in the House. One of the key players on Social Security expansion could be Sen. Conor Lamb, (Pa), according to Altman and Lawson. Lamb won a special election in Pennsylvania on a platform of protecting and expanding Social Security benefits.
“He campaigned aggressively on protecting and expanding Social Security. Both his electoral victory and exit polling show that he represents the will of Pennsylvanians, and, indeed, the overwhelming majority of Americans, on the important issue of protecting and expanding Social Security. Poll after poll reveals that large majorities of Americans of all ages, genders, races and political affiliations support expanding Social Security by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay more into the system. Lamb is one of the youngest members of the Democratic caucus. He represents the future. He recognizes that Social Security will be even more important for younger generations. He understands that expanding Social Security is a solution,” Altman and Lawson wrote.
The idea of expanding Social Security benefits is not one most politicians have typically campaigned on, but polls have shown that the majority of Americans actually support expanding Social Security benefits, so the political climate has changed and Democrats are beginning to embrace the idea. If you look at how important Social Security benefits are to millions of Americans, the shift in philosophy makes sense.
More than 63 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. These benefits provide the majority of income to the majority of people over the age of 65. The agency provides all or nearly all of the income to about 33 percent of seniors and has helped 22 million Americans, including 1.7 million children, get out of poverty.
There is a lot at stake during this year’s midterm election and maybe nothing more so than the future of Social Security.
