A resolution opposing any cuts to social safety net programs including — but not limited to — Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid passed the Lake County Council Tuesday along party lines after the panel’s two Republican councilmen abstained from the vote.
The resolution opposes cuts to social safety net programs such as cuts to benefits, raising the retirement age or even privatization in exchange for raising the nation’s debt ceiling before it defaults on its bills. The measure calls upon Lake County’s congressional delegation, Republican U.S. Sens. Mike Braun and Todd Young, and U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, to join them in opposing any such cuts.
Councilman Randy Niemeyer, R-Cedar Lake, questioned the need for such a resolution.
“Are any of these entitlements in danger of being cut?” he asked.
Council President Charlie Brown, D-Gary, said cuts to social safety net programs have been discussed by some Republican members of the U.S. House and Senate as they have debated raising the debt limit. He said Congress has already approved the payments that must be made, so it must raise the debt ceiling without cuts to programs to do so.
Niemeyer said he had not heard of legislation proposed by the Republican Party that would cut those specific programs.
“Well then, you won’t have any problems voting for this,” Brown said as some council members chuckled. “This is simply saying we don’t want to see the cuts…The U.S. should pay the debt it already incurred.”
Cuts to social safety net programs have been discussed by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, and members of the House Freedom Caucus in the run up to the February State of the Union Address by President Joe Biden. Following the address House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has insisted that cuts to Medicare and Social Security are “off the table”.
As part of his “Rescue America” agenda, Scott proposed ending all federal programs — including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — after five years unless Congress voted to reauthorize them. Biden’s criticism of the proposal led Scott to exempt Social Security and Medicare from the plan in mid-February, but Medicaid remains on the list.
In March, McCarthy provided a bullet-point list of five cost-saving measures instead of a budget. One of those measures was strengthening work requirements for people without dependents who receive federal aid.
“I’m in favor of the programs that (the resolution) listed and I don’t want to see cuts to them,” Niemeyer said. “I don’t feel this is a necessary or impactful thing for me to vote on.”
Councilman Pete Lindemulder, R-Schererville, the panel’s only other Republican, joined Niemeyer in abstaining from the vote. The resolution passed 5-0 with 2 abstentions.
