Trump instructed House Republicans not to use reconciliation to cut Social Security. The problem is that reconciliation cannot legally be used to cut Social Security.
A supposed big win for Trump was a promise from House Republicans not to use reconciliation to cut Social Security in exchange for raising the debt limit.
Problems with Matt Glassman:
If you sign a letter promising not to cut Social Security through a process that is legally prohibited from doing so, you get a fig leaf.
By law, Social Security cannot be changed through reconciliation.
According to Brookings Institution“Among other things, the Byrd Rule states that changes to Social Security benefits or Social Security payroll taxes cannot be considered part of a reconciliation bill.”
Congratulations to Donald Trump. He got House Republicans to agree to something they legally could not do.
Trump may boast about taking Social Security off the table, but what that really means is that health care for the poor, children, disabled people, and veterans will be targeted for cuts.
