One prominent voice has been notably absent thus far on the House Republicans attack on Social Security: President Obama's. Until now. As a reminder, on the first day of this new Congress, House Republicans
passed a rule that prevents Congress from allowing a simple transfer of funds from the retirement part of the Social Security trust fund to the disability part, unless Congress also takes up Social Security "reform" legislation.
Back to President Obama. The White House has responded to multiple requests from TPM with the following statement:
"Generally speaking, the Administration strongly opposes any efforts to undermine Congress’ ability to reallocate funds between the Social Security retirement and disability trust funds," a White House spokesperson told TPM, "as they have done with bipartisan support numerous times in the past in both directions." […]
The White House spokesperson told TPM that with the disability program's crisis looming in 2016, Congress has "a duty to act this year to fix this problem."
"Doing so prevents a deep and abrupt cut in benefits for vulnerable people with disabilities, including many who are nearing retirement age and have paid into Social Security for many years," the spokesperson said.
Generally speaking, that's fine. Specifically speaking, what's the president going to do about it? Specifically speaking, what President Obama going to do to ensure that both the retirement and disability funds of Social Security are strengthened and protected? Specifically, what's he going to do to keep either of these programs off the Republican chopping block?
Social Security has been on the president's grand bargaining table for far too long, which is probably part of why Republicans are so emboldened to directly attack it now. President Obama is also newly emboldened, knowing that he's got two years left to cement his legacy and to do it, he has to fight Republicans. Nothing would cap his legacy better than being the president who didn't just save Social Security from them, but made it stronger.