Thread: John Kasich on Social Security cuts: 'Get over it'

John Kasich on Social Security cuts: 'Get over it'

By Tal Kopan and Cassie Spodak, CNN

Updated 11:11 PM ET, Fri October 9, 2015

Exeter, New Hampshire (CNN)Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Friday that a New Hampshire audience member would "get over" cuts to Social Security payments as a result of his reform plan -- and the left is already pouncing on the comment.

The Republican presidential candidate was asked about entitlement reform during NH1's "Fiscal Fridays" series in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday, and he said it was something that would have to get done.

"We can't balance a budget without entitlement reform. What are we, kidding?" Kasich said when asked about his opponents who say they won't touch entitlements.

Kasich said he was part of the effort to reform Medicare and Medicaid in the '90s, and that he also had a plan to change Social Security so that initial benefits were lowered for individuals not yet near eligibility.
Gov. Kasich tells Democrats to 'lighten up'

Gov. Kasich tells Democrats to 'lighten up' 01:12

He asked audience members to raise their hands if they were far from receiving Social Security, asked them if they knew yet what their initial benefit would be and then asked them if they would be bothered if it were a little lower for the good of the country.

One person said it would be a problem.

"Well, you'd get over it, and you're going to have to get over it," Kasich joked.

Within an hour, the liberal PAC American Bridge was already out with a video of the encounter, and the New Hampshire Democratic Party quickly circulated the video, saying Kasich "threatened our Granite State seniors."

Kasich did not go into full detail on what his plan would be, saying he would roll it out soon after some number crunching. But he noted that in the past, his cuts would have started with baby boomers.

He initially said young people would see "a lot" lower benefit, before correcting himself to say perhaps not "a lot," but some amount.

Later in the day Kasich dismissed the criticism as "silly" and said "difficult" bipartisan changes are necessary in order to stabilize Social Security.

Kasich told reporters that Democrats "basically allowed this program to get to a point where it could go bankrupt" and said they should focus on proposals to fix the problem.

"It's the silly season on the campaign trail and we're getting close to Halloween and they just want to scare people," Kasich said.

Kasich continued discussing entitlements throughout New Hampshire stops Friday, including a town hall meeting in Stratham.

"You're on Medicare and you want me to ignore the fact that it's going broke, you're not going to like me," he told the audience, adding later, "I'd rather have people be in a position where they're aggravated with me so I can accomplish something, than have them love me and accomplish nothing, OK. I'm not there to run a popularity contest."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/politi...cial-security/

Oops, I posted this in the wrong topic thread. It should be in General Discussion. Can someone move for me? Thanks.

Well, I'd say Kasich has cooked his goose here. Cutting benefits for Senior Citizens is not the answer to solving the budget problem. To all you ninnies who want to pick winners and losers like funding illegal aliens with Medicaid which pays 100% so you can cut American Seniors on Medicare that only pays 80%, and who have paid into this fund for at least 45 years, you are DESPICABLE.

"Get over it".

OH HELL NO, we'll send you back to Ohio to finish your term and then you can bleed slowly into oblivion. Oh, and don't worry, you'll "get over it".

GO TRUMP!!

He is a waste of time and wish he and his garbage mouth would drop out

REFORM THE SSI ENTITLEMENT. I went to a local Congresswoman two years ago, had to talk to the COS of course. And explained that even liberals were alarmed about the rapid growth of SSI entitlement.

Plus any amnesty would put illegals on the path to getting Social Security, you can bet. Republicans are in the dark about this---and they may pay the price at the polls. And if they do, WE ARE ALL SUNK!!!! SS can be saved without these cuts, g----it. Of course puppet stooge Ryan talks about the same thing. But just TRY to get through to any of these idiots. We had one GOP disaster with Jr. Bush---NO MORE!! Part of the problem is that the GOP hasn't awaken to what an absolute MESS we are in, and that it really takes heroic effort now!!

I'll put a post up when I have time on why the SSI has turned into a big drain. Gotta run to a state meeting...

Originally Posted by Captainron

REFORM THE SSI ENTITLEMENT. I went to a local Congresswoman two years ago, had to talk to the COS of course. And explained that even liberals were alarmed about the rapid growth of SSI entitlement.

Plus any amnesty would put illegals on the path to getting Social Security, you can bet. Republicans are in the dark about this---and they may pay the price at the polls. And if they do, WE ARE ALL SUNK!!!! SS can be saved without these cuts, g----it. Of course puppet stooge Ryan talks about the same thing. But just TRY to get through to any of these idiots. We had one GOP disaster with Jr. Bush---NO MORE!! Part of the problem is that the GOP hasn't awaken to what an absolute MESS we are in, and that it really takes heroic effort now!!

I'll put a post up when I have time on why the SSI has turned into a big drain. Gotta run to a state meeting...

The problem with Social Security is simple. They haven't raised the payroll tax rate since 1990. 25 years without an increase in the payroll tax rate? COME ON!! They suck the good jobs out of the country, they allow illegal aliens and excess immigrants in to deflate wages and salaries which reduces the payroll tax revenue needed to fund Social Security, then refuse to raise the rates, then want to whine about the Social Security Trust Fund going broke?!

This has all been planned to bankrupt our country, our retirement system, everything.

Under the FairTax, the portion of the FairTax rate that's earmarked for Social Security is by LAW, to be adjusted by Congress every 2 years, every session of Congress as needed to maintain the Fund. It starts out at 8.09% of the 23% rate, with the 14.91% earmarked for General Revenue, all paid at the final point of sale on the purchase of new goods and services.

6 years ago I researched the collections and the pay-outs of SSA and collections were just about equal to payouts, nothing for Trust Fund Reserves. I checked them the other day and there's a shortfall of almost $400 billion a year which means that's coming out of the Trust Fund Reserves or being replaced by general revenue and accumulating to the debt.

Also, and this is amazing. Medicare expenditures were approximately $519 billion. Sounds big right? But Medicaid expenditures, federal government portion only, which is about half of what Medicaid actually costs us because the states pay half on top of what the feds pay, was $450 billion, which means Medicaid is costing almost twice what Medicare is costing American taxpayers when you add in the contributions by states. There are over 72 million people on Medicaid with 100% coverage compared to about 57 million people on Medicare receiving only 80% coverage. Plus all Medicare enrollees pay a Medicare tax that's taken out of their Social Security benefit, whereas Medicaid beneficiaries pay nothing.

The solution to SSA funding is a long overdue payroll tax increase. It's never gone this long without an adjustment. 25 years? That's totally irresponsible.

The problem isn't SSA and Medicare, the problem is 72 million and growing beneficiaries under Medicaid. This is the poverty factor caused by massive immigration and free trade treason. And any politician blaming Seniors for this is someone who needs to be kicked to the curb and run back into the oblivion they deserve.

Any politician who isn't talking jobs, jobs, jobs, by deporting illegal aliens, reversing all free trade treason agreements, and calling for a Moratorium on All Immigration for at least 10 years in addition to passing the FairTax is just another phony conning the American people out of their country.

And yes, that is con men like Paul Ryan, who is home this weekend watching football and "Praying" about whether he can better destroy our country as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee or as Speaker of the House, when in fact, people like Paul Ryan shouldn't even be in government in any capacity, let alone in leadership roles.

And to your point, Captainron, SSI is a drain, an unfair drain, too. Most of the people on SSI are not disabled, most people on SSI can work, that's not to say most don't have a problem of some sort, but everyone has a problem of some sort, but what the SSI has become is a poverty program, wrongfully draining Social Security instead of general revenue. And when they qualify for SSI, then the income level automatically qualifies them for many poverty programs. I'm not for doing away with it since it provides a necessary income for those recovering from illness or dealing with debilitating problems that take awhile to fix in order to resume work. But, what I've seen of people on SSI, they're perfectly capable of working at many different types of jobs, because they are not disabled, they just have issues, like ... headaches for example, or back pain, or tennis elbows, things like that.

The Other Welfare

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for children was created mainly for those with severe physical disabilities. But the $10 billion in federal benefit checks now goes primarily to indigent children with behavioral, learning and mental conditions. Qualifying is not always easy -- many applicants believe it is essential that a child needs to be on psychotropic drugs to qualify. But once enrolled, there is little incentive to get off. And officials rarely check to see if the children are getting better.
See video at


http://www.boston.com/news/health/specials/New_Welfare/

Originally Posted by Captainron

http://www.boston.com/news/health/specials/New_Welfare/

Oh my God, that's outrageous! So the drug companies are probably behind this, huh? They've so evil in so many instances.