Gillibrand 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2019

GILLIBRAND ENDS FIRST DAY OF “TRUMP BROKEN PROMISES TOUR” WITH SOCIAL SECURITY ROUNDTABLE IN CLEVELAND

Today, Senator Gillibrand concluded the first day of her “Trump Broken Promises Tour” with a stop in Cleveland for a roundtable to discuss the harm the Trump administration has inflicted on seniors, and her plans to protect and expand Social Security.

In response to President Trump’s broken promises to protect this critical earned benefit, Gillibrand introduced her Social Security Expansion plan, which will strengthen Social Security and ensure its solvency for future generations.

“Social Security is much more than a government program or an entitlement, it is a benefit all Americans earn, yet President Trump threatens this earned benefit at every turn,” said Senator Gillibrand. “My plan will increase benefits to help keep millions of Americans out of poverty and ensure that we take care of our seniors and not rob them of their hard earned benefits. Our seniors can trust that I’ll fight for them in the White House.”

As president, Senator Gillibrand will:

Extend the solvency of Social Security and ensure its longevity, and force the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share

  • Increase the Social Security payroll tax cap on earnings to apply to those earning more than $250,000 to ensure that the ultra wealthy pay the same rate as working class Americans.
  • Enact an additional 3.8% investment income tax and direct revenue to Social Security trust fund.
Increase Social Security benefits because while essential to keeping millions out of poverty, these benefits are not enough.

  • Increase overall Social Security benefits by approximately $65/month and raise the floor for minimum benefits.
  • Allow all full-time students with deceased or disabled parents to receive benefits through Social Security. Currently there is a gap in eligibility for people between 18 and 22 years old.
  • Ensure that surviving spouses receive full benefits and eliminate the cap on total benefits.
Implement a smarter way to calculate cost of living increases for seniors

  • Use a consumer price index, CPI-E, that ensures seniors receive cost of living adjustments that reflect what they actually spend their money on.
Ensure public sector workers’ full benefits are protected

  • Eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) which harms public sector workers by reducing their benefits.
  • Currently, Social Security benefits are limited when someone has a state pension plan, but with those plans floundering, full Social Security benefits are more important.

Senator Gillibrand will continue the tour tomorrow with stops in Oakland County, Flint, and Lansing.