Senate GOP’s Tax, Social Security Plan Widely Unpopular… If People Know About It

Did you know that the Republican senator in charge of winning back control of the Senate for his party introduced a plan to increase taxes on one-third of Iowans and put Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy?

If you answered ‘no,’ you’re not alone. According to a new Courier Newsroom/Data for Progress poll, 94% of likely voters said they have heard little or nothing at all about Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s 60-page plan to “Rescue America,” with 72% hearing nothing at all.

When voters learn about Scott’s plan though, they overwhelmingly oppose it, with 71% of respondents, including 62% of Republicans, opposing Scott’s plan. Only 15% of likely voters support the plan.

Such opposition is not exactly surprising, since the Republican’s plan would raise taxes on tens of millions of Americans and “sunset” all federal legislation in five years, requiring Congress to re-authorize every federal law, including those governing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. This could create an opening for Republicans—who have long sought to undermine the programs—to ultimately kill them.

If Scott’s plan were to become law, it could:

• End Social Security and Medicare for more than 650,000 Iowans
• End Medicaid coverage for 798,000 state residents
• Raise taxes on 32% of Iowans, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
• Raise taxes on 51% of small businesses in the state, with the typical business paying an extra $900 per year in taxes, according to a White House analysis.

Scott—who in 2018 was worth $260 million—has defended his plan, even as it could have potentially devastating consequences for seniors, families, and the most vulnerable Iowans.

Iowa’s Sen. Chuck Grassley does not appear to have publicly weighed in on the issue, though that hasn’t kept it out of Iowa politics conversations.

State Sen. Liz Mathis’ campaign looked to tie Scott’s plans to Rep. Ashley Hinson’s recent comments that Congress may need to make “tough decisions” in order to keep Social Security solvent for future generations.

“Hinson’s admission comes after GOP Senator Rick Scott received bipartisan criticism for his plan that ‘could mean an end to Social Security,’ a policy that is very unfavorable among Americans,” Mathis’ campaign said in a press release.

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The survey of 1,110 likely voters, which was conducted from April 30 to May 3, 2022 also shows that the proposal from the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee—the “only national organization dedicated to taking back the Senate majority”—could be electoral poison for Republicans.

Forty-seven percent of independent voters said Scott’s plan would make them less likely to vote for Republican candidates for Congress in November, while only 12% said it would make them more likely to vote for him and 41% said it wouldn’t impact their choice.

by Keya Vakil
Posted 05/05/22

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