ICYMI: Van Orden in La Crosse Tribune: “No Cuts to Social Security, Medicare”

LA CROSSE, WI – In case you missed it, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) penned an op-ed in the La Crosse Tribune highlighting his commitment to protecting Social Security and Medicare.

Despite lies from some self-serving politicians, Republicans and Democrats agree that Social Security and Medicare must be protected. As Van Orden notes, “We need a balanced budget now, but we need to do it responsibly. That means protecting our seniors, while we limit spending, save taxpayer money, and grow the economy.”

Read the full op-ed in the La Crosse Tribune here, or find excerpts below:

No cuts to Social Security, Medicare
Rep. Derrick Van Orden
La Crosse Tribune
April 9, 2023

Let me be explicitly clear: I will have no part in a debt ceiling negotiation that includes cuts to Social Security or Medicare. The Speaker of the House and the remainder of the Republican Party Leadership have explicitly stated that Social Security and Medicare are not on the table. I was there when President Biden said: “we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books” during his State of the Union Address. 

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There is no time for partisan lies and theatrics. America is $31 trillion in debt and according to the recent CBO report, the net interest of our national debt will amount to a $10.5 trillion burden for taxpayers over the next decade. This is a threat to America. We need a balanced budget now, but we need to do it responsibly. That means protecting our seniors, while we limit spending, save taxpayer money, and grow the economy.

I encourage President Biden to accept Speaker McCarthy’s offer to negotiate so that we can deliver a budget that cuts spending, lowers costs, and protects the benefits to which our retirees are entitled. I also commit to working with my colleagues to strengthen these programs and ensure they continue to provide the programs that our seniors rely on.