Article Source: Robert Riechel

Recently I sent the following to CA U.S. Senator Padilla

CA Senator Padilla
 

SUBJECT:   SAVING Social Security
I have written all 3 of you numerous times previously asking each of you the following questions:
1.       WHAT bill(s) have YOU introduced in congress to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY for us?
2.       WHAT bill(s) have YOU become a sponsor of that proposes plans to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY for us?
3.       WHAT bill(s) have YOU voted for or will vote for to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY for us?
I received a reply from one of you of approximately 500 words that did NOT specifically address any of the above 3 questions.  I received nothing from the other 2 of you.  HOW is this representing me as a voter?
Here is what YOU each can do::
1.       Slightly increasing the employee & employer percentage of Social Security taxes both pay should put more money in the pot for future payouts.
2.       DO NOT keep raising the age at which taxpayers can begin drawing Social Security or when they can start drawing the maximum monthly social security amounts.
3.       VOTE for repaying ALL monies collected as Social Security taxes that went to or is going to non Social Security monthly payments.
4.       DRASTICALLY raise the earned wages limit subject to Social Security wages by BOTH the employee and employer. 
OR
5.       ELIMINATE the current maximum of earned wages subject to Social Security wages PERIOD.  This one action would quickly add many more dollars that can then be paid out.  Look at how many years (yes years) YOU have failed to collect additional monies to increase the amount available for monthly payouts.  These lost years of incoming dollars cannot be regained!    YOU call this acceptable representation of your constituents?
NOW I read the following:
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., proposed borrowing $1.5 trillion from the U.S. Treasury and investing that money in a diversified fund, similar to a standard 401(k) portfolio. The fund would be held in escrow for 75 years, completely separate from Social Security’s existing trust funds, according to Cassidy’s testimony at the hearing.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., reintroduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, which would apply payroll taxes to all income above $400,000. The bill would also extend the tax to investment income and close a loophole that lets some wealthy pass-
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., signaled interest in reducing or capping benefits for high-earning retirees rather than raising taxes on anyone currently working. 
WHICH of these 3 proposed bills:
DO YOU SUPPORT
WILL YOU BECOME A CO-SPONSOR OF
WILL YOU VOTE FOR
Or will you keep kicking the can down the road and NOT representing MY needs and NOT being MY working congressman?
/s/ Robert Riechel

Today I received the following:

  

Dear Mr. Riechel,

Thank you for writing to share your thoughts regarding health care insurance premiums. I appreciate hearing from you.

Health care is a human right, and it’s past time that we ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care, regardless of zip code or tax bracket. While the number of uninsured Americans has hit an all-time low, over 70 million Americans remain uninsured or under-insured because of high deductibles and premiums.

You may be interested to know that I was proud to support the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2), which President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021. This legislation strengthened the Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) by introducing incentives for states to expand their Medicaid programs, as well as through increasing and expanding eligibility for health care insurance premium subsidies, known as Premium Tax Credits. I was also proud to vote to extend these enhanced insurance premium subsidies through 2025 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169), which President Biden signed into law on August 16, 2022.

Enhanced premium subsidies have increased access to care and reduced the number of people who are uninsured by making health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans. That is why I am also an original cosponsor of the “Health Care Affordability Act” (S. 46), introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to make these enhancements permanent. This bill is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate Committee on Finance, of which I am not a member.

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration made the largest cuts to Medicaid in our nation’s history, kicking 15 million Americans off their health coverage. After that, Congressional Republicans shut down the federal government for 43 days and refused to extend lifesaving health care subsidies. As a result, more than 20 million Americans are now watching their health insurance premiums skyrocket, and four million Americans – including 400,000 Californians – risk having to drop their health insurance entirely because they can no longer afford it if these subsidies expire.

This crisis is a direct consequence of President Trump’s disastrous economic agenda and his blatant refusal to confront the health care affordability challenges millions of Americans face. You may be pleased to know that I voted to advance the “Lower Health Care Costs Act” (S.3385), introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), which would extend the enhancement of the health care premium tax credit for three years.

Unfortunately, Senate Republicans opposed this measure, and it failed to reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance in the Senate.

Please know that I appreciate hearing your perspective on this issue, and I will continue fighting to extend the Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) premium tax credits to ensure every Californian has access to high-quality, affordable health care.

Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or comments, please call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3553 or visit my website at padilla.senate.gov. You can also follow me on Facebook, and Twitter, and you can sign up for my email newsletter at padilla.senate.gov/newsletter. 



Sincerely,

Alex Padilla
United States Senator

MY APPARENTLY STILL UNANSWERED QUESTION:  WHAT will assure no cut in Social Security Benefits  YOU can contact Senator Padilla thru his sit padilla.senate.gov above