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For Immediate Release
March, 07 2024, 02:21pm EDT
Contact:
Linda Benesch, lbenesch@socialsecurityworks.org
Republicans Vote to Advance Budget With Trump-Arrington Death Panel for Social Security
Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington’s (R-TX) House Budget Committee held a markup on the House Republican FY2025 budget resolution. The budget resolution was reported out of committee with support from every Republican present, while every Democrat voted against it.
The following is a statement from Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works:
“This budget includes a so-called ‘fiscal commission,’ which the White House has accurately referred to as a death panel for Social Security and Medicare. The commission is designed to slash vital earned benefits through a fast-track, closed-door process, intended to allow Republicans to avoid political accountability.
Every Republican who voted for this budget voted to cut Social Security and Medicare. During the mark-up, Democrats proposed numerous amendments to protect Social Security and Medicare. Republicans voted down all of them.
This markup comes two days after Donald Trump enthusiastically endorsed Chairman Arrington. Arrington is a fervent supporter of the death panel commission, and wants to attach it to must-pass government spending bills. By endorsing Arrington, Trump has endorsed the Social Security death panel.
At tonight’s State of the Union, President Joe Biden has a golden opportunity to slam the Trump-Arrington death panel. In addition, Biden should renew his promise to protect and expand Social Security — and pay for it by taxing the ultra-rich. Then the American people will know which party stands with them and which party stands with the billionaire class.”
Those opposed to the Social Security death panel commission include:
Seventy percent of voters, including 71 percent of Republican voters
The White House, which refers to it as a “death panel for Social Security and Medicare”
116 House Democrats led by Reps. John Larson (D-CT) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
AARP
The AFL-CIO
AFSCME and over 170 national, state, and local groups
100+ organizations including labor unions and advocates for seniors, women, and people with disabilities
Former staff (Democratic and Republican) of the 1983 Greenspan Commission
Social Security Works' mission is to: Protect and improve the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations; Safeguard the economic security of those dependent, now or in the future, on Social Security; and Maintain Social Security as a vehicle of social justice.
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As the Trump administration continued its illegal freeze on food assistance, the US Department of Agriculture sent a warning to grocery stores not to provide discounts to the more than 42 million Americans affected.
Several grocery chains and food delivery apps have announced in recent days that they would provide substantial discounts to those whose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been delayed. More than 1 in 8 Americans rely on the program, and 39% of them are children.
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Immigration agents are using facial recognition software as "definitive" evidence to determine immigration status and is collecting data from US citizens without their consent. In some cases, agents may detain US citizens, including ones who can provide their birth certificates, if the app says they are in the country illegally.
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The report found that agents frequently conduct stops that "seem to have little justification beyond the color of someone’s skin... then look up more information on that person, including their identity and potentially their immigration status."
While it is not clear what application the agencies are using, 404 previously reported that ICE is using an app called Mobile Fortify that allows ICE to simply point a camera at a person on the street. The photos are then compared with a bank of more than 200 million images and dozens of government databases to determine info about the person, including their name, date of birth, nationality, and information about their immigration status.
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