Most likely, every living person who graduated from PHS and St. Vincent’s before 1960 gets a Social Security check each month and pays for part of their Medicare insurance, myself included. There are hundreds of our home-grown veterans who receive benefits, too. What does the future hold for us?
Democrats claim Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare. What do Republicans say publicly? Trump campaigned on protecting Social Security and Medicare. Republicans say those programs are safe. The documented voting record shows that on March 19, 2026 nearly every House Republican voted for a balanced budget amendment. Every Republican who voted, voted yes. The Congressional Budget Once confirmed it would force drastic cuts to Medicare, Social Security, Food Assistance, Veterans benefits, and other programs that American families depend on. The Republican response? The amendment is about fiscal responsibility, not cutting benefits. “About” is not the same as “result.”
The CBO responded to the Republicans’ claim that these programs would be protected ring hollow, given their drastically reduced share of the budget. The Republican Study Committee, a congressional caucus of Conservative members of the Republican Party in the House, represents 80% of the House Republicans and 100% of their leadership. Their proposed budget calls for over $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security, which includes raising the retirement age to 69, cutting disability benefits, and raising Medicare costs for seniors by removing Medicare’s authority to negotiate prescription drug prices.
Speaker Mike Johnson said publicly that Republicans have a “plan to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid if they retain control of Congress.” Now here’s the important context for both sides: 91% of American voters, Republican and Democrats alike, say that they do not want these programs cut. Both parties agree that the program needs fixing, the difference is how.
House Republicans respond by saying they want to raise the retirement age and reduce benefits. House Democrats propose lifting the income cap on Social Security taxes so that higher earners pay more—same problem, two very different solutions.
Think of it this way, if someone cannot afford food, one solution is to find a way to make that food more affordable. The other solution is to get rid of the food. Both solve the budget problem, but they are not equal. Here’s the question I want you to sit with before you vote. When 92% of Republican voters say that they do not want Social Security cut, and Republican leadership votes for amendments the CBO says will cut Social Security, whose interest is that voting record serving? The documented record is what it is.
My fellow retirees, this November, you get to decide what it means to you and our fellow Americans who are not as fortunate as we are. Remember, 39% of the people on food assistance programs are children, and 20% are the elderly. Please be kind.
Paul Flentge
Gallatin Gateway, Mont.
