HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) — One after one other, callers on a phone city corridor with U.S. Rep. Invoice Huizenga pressed the Michigan Republican about attainable cuts to Social Safety. Amongst them was a retired trainer and coach from West Michigan who mentioned he and his spouse, each with disabilities, have struggled to entry their advantages.
The person, recognized solely as Michael from Allegan, mentioned he feared that workplace closures and big layoffs of federal staff — a part of an effort by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity to slash authorities spending — will make it even tougher.
“We worked our entire life,” he mentioned. “But we can’t get any help because we can’t get through to anybody.”
Huizenga pledged all through the assembly: “Let me just reiterate, Social Security is not being touched.”
Related exchanges have performed out throughout the political battleground of Michigan and elsewhere within the U.S. in latest days, as widespread cuts immediate fears amongst constituents in regards to the in style program, which supplies month-to-month advantages to retirees and a few kids. It’s left Republicans scrambling to reassure voters and play down Musk’s feedback about Social Safety and his capability to make cuts. The GOP additionally has accused Democrats of “fear-mongering” on the matter.
It’s clear the problem has resonated. Of the 13 questions Huizenga took, 9 had been associated to Social Safety. In a close-by mid-Michigan district that was among the many best U.S. Home races final 12 months, a ballot taken at first of first-term GOP Rep. Tom Barrett’s phone city corridor confirmed Social Safety and Medicare as the highest subject for attendees.
Sean Rayford through Getty Pictures
And at a fiery in-person city corridor in Asheville, North Carolina, one of many first questions Rep. Chuck Edwards fielded was on how he would “ensure the protection of our Social Security benefits.” After the query was learn, the room of about 300 folks erupted in applause.
Whereas Trump has repeatedly mentioned he “will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits,” the administration has begun layoffs affecting over 10% of the Social Safety Administration workforce and the closure of dozens of workplaces nationwide.
Musk, the world’s richest man and one in all Trump’s most influential advisers, has referred to as Social Safety “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” He hinted that it could possibly be a main goal in his broader effort to downsize the federal authorities, saying in an interview on Fox Business Community that “most of the federal spending is entitlements” and “that’s the big one to eliminate.”
The White Home insisted Musk was solely referring to fraud.
Democrats, struggling for a unified message in opposition to Trump, see a chance. Polling signifies that cuts to Social Safety could be unpopular, together with inside Trump’s base. A strong majority of Republicans mentioned the U.S. is spending “too little” on Social Safety in a January AP-NORC ballot, and solely about 1 in 10 mentioned “too much” is being spent on this system.
In her rebuttal to Trump’s joint congressional tackle earlier this month, Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin warned that the president “could very well come after your retirement.”
Potential cuts to essential authorities applications — corresponding to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Safety — introduced Leslie Boyd out to hearken to Edwards’ city corridor in North Carolina on Thursday. These applications have to be improved as a substitute of lower, Boyd mentioned earlier than the occasion, and she or he hoped Edwards had “the courage to stand up for that.”
Boyd, 72, mentioned she has some financial savings, however depends upon Social Safety.
“I paid into that my entire career,” Boyd mentioned. “I worked from the time I was 16. I paid into that, it’s mine and I want it.”
Requested about this system contained in the packed assembly, Edwards started by saying “President Trump has made it clear” earlier than he was interrupted by jeers. He then shifted to debate his personal viewpoint on this system as a substitute.
“I’m not going to vote to dissolve your Social Security. I’m not looking to,” Edwards began to say earlier than being drowned out by shouting. He continued, “That’s a promise that’s been made to the American people. Those folks who have worked all their life and paid into that certainly deserve to reap the rewards.”
A number of attendees continued to yell at Edwards, demanding he stand as much as Musk.
Barrett opened a phone city corridor in his mid-Michigan district Monday evening by addressing the flood of issues over DOGE he mentioned his workplace had been receiving. Barrett harassed that Musk is merely an adviser and mentioned applications are “temporarily paused and under review.”
“I want to be very clear that this does not include Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid,” he mentioned. “Again, this does not include Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. It’s important to keep in mind that DOGE is only giving recommendations.”
Republican leaders have cautioned lawmakers in opposition to in-person city halls, contending with out providing proof that paid activists had been disrupting occasions.
Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain, a staunch Trump ally, claimed Democratic donors had “organized” the disruptions.
But even in tightly managed phone city halls, the place questions are sometimes screened upfront by congressional staffers, Social Safety was a prime concern.
Throughout McClain’s Monday name, a caller named Beverly, who mentioned her handicapped son depends on Medicaid, expressed her fears: “I’m really concerned about that being cut, I guess.”
“Let me put your mind at ease. Do not listen to the Democrats that are fearmongering,” mentioned McClain, who represents a closely Republican district north of Detroit. “There are no cuts to Medicaid.”
Throughout the city corridor with Huizenga, a caller named Val from Berrien County, Michigan, voiced her frustration, warning that workplace closures may trigger some beneficiaries to “slip through the cracks.”
“Suddenly they’re going to find themselves without the means to cover their housing, or the means to get the care they need or to be able to get food on the table,” she mentioned.
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Related Press author Makiya Seminera contributed from Asheville, N.C.
