Biden’s claim that Republicans want to shut down Medicare and Social Security needs context

President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Statement was a little more interactive than usual, with more booing, applause, and even direct exchanges between the president and members of Congress.

One of the highlights came when the president accused congressional Republicans of proposing plans that could end Medicare and Social Security.

“Some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to shut down,” he said, prompting an immediate outcry from the GOP members present. “I’m not saying it’s the majority. Let me give you… anyone who doubts this. Contact my office. I will give you a copy. I’ll give you a copy of the offer.”

Several VERIFY viewers had questions about this exchange. Berle of Georgia said, “I want to know the names or accounts of Republicans who want to cut Medicare that Joe Biden keeps talking about.”

Others simply wanted to know if it was true that any Republican had come up with such a plan.

Have any Republicans in Congress proposed shutting down Medicare and Social Security?

Republican Senator Rick Scott has proposed requiring all federal legislation (including Medicare and Social Security) to be reauthorized every five years, meaning it will expire unless renewed. However, even if the plan is passed, Scott said he would expect Medicare and Social Security to be re-approved each time.

In 2022, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) released a series of policy proposals that he called his 11-point “Save America” ​​plan, which has since been expanded to 12 points.

Point number six concerns government reform and debt. One of his proposals states: “All federal laws expire after 5 years.”

A closure is when a law expires automatically unless Congress decides to renew it.

Medicare and Social Security were created under federal law, so it’s true that this proposal would put them at least before a renewal vote every five years.

But Biden’s statement still needs context. As he acknowledged, Scott’s proposal is unpopular even among Republicans.

When asked Of the Save America plan in 2022, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated:[Republicans] will not include on our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half of the American people and shuts down Social Security and Medicare within five years.”

Scott himself also said that he believes that even if his proposal were somehow passed, it would not affect Social Security and Medicare because they are so popular that Congress will renew them every time.

“I have never advocated cutting Social Security or Medicare and never will,” he said. tweeted in response to Biden’s remarks.

However, regardless of intent, the wording of the proposal does not exempt Social Security or Medicare from closing every five years.

Scott did not present his plan in the form of any actual bill in Congress – this remains a purely theoretical and unpopular proposal.