Holy crap! A repub congressman thinks the idea of eliminating the cap on SS payroll tax has merit!

[Kaleva]

Earlier, I had called my representative, Dr. Benishek (R), and asked the staffer who answered the phone that Dr. Benishek look into Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) bill, entitled the "Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act" and consider supporting or introducing similar legislation in the House.

This morning I went and got the mail from the mailbox and there was a letter from the Congressman's office. In the letter, he talks about the main points of Senator Begich's bill and at the end the letter says and I quote:

"In my opinion, Social Security should remain unchanged for seniors who have planned their lives around its current structure. I recognize, however, that this program requires some reform to ensure younger generations can receive full retirement benefits. I believe all ideas for reform, including eliminating the payroll tax cap, merit further consideration."

What struck me in the above was that he talks about future generations receiving full benefits and considering the idea of eliminating the payroll tax cap so that they can receive such.

Even a broken clock can be correct twice a day.

I write this OP to encourage other DUers who have a Repub congress critter to still try and let them know you support eliminating the payroll tax cap (if you actually do support it).

[JaneyVee]

1. Satan must be freezing.

[Kaleva]

2. Well, I'm cold. It's 55 degrees in the house.

I keep it at that temp for much of the day and during the night to save on heating costs as I'm on SSDI. My gas bill for last month for heating, cooking and hot water was $40 and some change.

[PoliticalBiker]

19. Do you have the option...

for a monthly payment plan?
your utility company averages the energy costs over the past year and sets up monthly payments based on that schedule
I'm low income and am on that kind of a schedule

[Kaleva]

20. I just moved here this spring

But that's something i could check into after I've been here for a year. I'm trying to save as much as I can so I have money to spare on replacing old doors and single pane windows.

[PoliticalBiker]

21. Even though you just moved in...

... the utility company will probably have records from the previous owner/tenant.
they should still be able to give you an estimate and perhaps set you up on a schedule
Could be worth your while to give them a call...

[Skidmore]

12. Nah, dude's afraid he'll lose his cushy job.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. Even a Republican Congressman understands this? But where is Obama on this?

Has he ever, even once, talked about removing the cap?

[plethoro]

4. The answer to this question is coming, and it is of paramount

importance to our ideations about Obama.

[union_maid]

5. Yes

He spoke about raising it or eliminating it during the 2008 campaign. I think he discussed it during the primaries. Not really sure if it was primaries, general or both.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. Thanks.

[Historic NY]

13. He address to AARP this summer.

President Barack Obama revived a 2008 campaign promise on Friday, telling the crowd at an AARP forum that he would be open to raising the level of income on which Americans pay Social Security taxes.

“You know, I do think that looking at changing the cap is an important aspect of putting Social Security on a more stable footing,” Obama said, via satellite feed. “And what I’ve said is, is that I’m willing to work with Republicans and examine all their ideas, but what I’m not going to do, as a matter of principle, is to slash benefits or privatize Social Security and suddenly turn it over to Wall Street — because we saw what could happen back in 2008 and 2009 when the stock market crashed, and we are still recovering from that.”

[AnotherMcIntosh]

18. Thanks. Changing the cap is a good idea. (Removing it would be better.) Since he said

that he is "willing to work with Republicans," it is highly likely that he is going to use a tax trick to reduce Social Security benefits.

Reagan (while getting the benefit of a false reputation for lowering taxes) reduced Social Security benefits by using a trick of subjecting 50% of such benefits to taxation when a certain threshhold is met.

Bill Clinton used the same trick to raise the percentage to 85%.

Obama will probably use it again and raise the percentage to 100%.

[Roland99]

6. Read between the lines, though

that "reform" for younger generations equates to Privatization

[SHRED]

8. SS is there for all of us at ANY age

What really strikes me is how many young and old alike there are who do not realize this. Allowing the cons to frame SS as solely for the elderly allows the cons to pit one age group against another.

[freshwest]

16. Very true. There are many for whom those arbitrary divisions don't apply.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

9. I hope you helped advance this.

It sounds like you have.

Great work.

[Grins]

10. Social Security funds pay the general expenses of government

Social Security funds have been used for decades to pay the general expenses of the government, meaning those making more than the Social Security cap have never paid their fair share of the federal budget.

Pull the cap off! Completely off! And that includes capital gains.

[closeupready]

11. K&R - ironic that a Republican is to the left of many Dems

on the issue of strengthening social security.

[freshwest]

17. ...

[Major Nikon]

14. Eliminating the cap is not a bad idea

However, personally I'd rather keep the cap in place and instead include investment income. It will never happen, but the suggestion would have a lot of GOPhers pissing their pants.

[UrbScotty]

15. BENISHEK?! Wow. I wonder about Huizenga and Amash, though.

I shall find out!

[toby jo]

22. Try a bargain like: for every month you want to raise our retirement age

the cap goes up $20,000. So a 2-yr raise for them equals $480,0000 for us to tax. Don't know what math works best here, but the idea I like.