XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, alt.politics.republicans, talk.politics.misc
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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/05/social-security-administration-email-trump-tax-bill>
Blatant misinformation’: Social Security Administration email
praising Trump’s tax bill blasted as a ‘lie’
Previously apolitical agency lauds Trump’s spending bill with
false statements about federal taxes, experts say
An email sent by the US Social Security Administration (SSA)
that claims Donald Trump’s major new spending bill has
eliminated taxes on benefits for most recipients is
misleading, critics have said.
The reconciliation bill – which the president called the “one
big, beautiful bill” before signing it on Friday after
Republicans in Congress passed it – includes provisions that
will strip people of their health insurance, cut food
assistance for the poor, kill off clean energy development and
raise the national debt by trillions of dollars.
But the bill also “eliminates federal income taxes on social
security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to
individuals and couples”, the previously apolitical SSA stated
in an email circulated on Thursday.
Frank Bisignano, the commissioner of the agency, said in a
statement that nearly 90% of social security beneficiaries
will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits.
“This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,”
Bisignano said. “By significantly reducing the tax burden on
benefits, this legislation reaffirms President Trump’s promise
to protect social security and helps ensure that seniors can
better enjoy the retirement they’ve earned.”
However, the spending bill does not actually eliminate federal
taxes on social security due to the rule constraints of
passing a bill this way – through the reconciliation process,
to avoid a Democratic filibuster.
. . .
The New Jersey representative Frank Pallone, the top Democrat
on the House’s energy and commerce committee, wrote on X that
“every word” of the SSA’s email on Thursday “is a lie”.
“This big, ugly bill doesn’t change that,” Pallone wrote.
“It’s disturbing to see Trump hijack a public institution to
push blatant misinformation.”
Here is the letter. I got this one, and it smelled of bullshit.
Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing
Historic Tax Relief for Seniors
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the
passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of
legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions
of older Americans.
The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security
beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their
benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors
who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation's
economy.
“This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said
Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90
years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic
security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the
tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President
Trump’s promise to protect Social Security and helps ensure
that seniors can better enjoy the retirement they’ve earned."
The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal
income taxes on Social Security benefits for most
beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples.
Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers
aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of
what they have earned.
Social Security remains committed to providing timely,
accurate information to the public and will continue working
closely with federal partners to ensure beneficiaries
understand how this legislation may affect them.
--
It follows that any commander in chief who undertakes to carry out a plan
which he considers defective is at fault; he must put forth his reasons,
insist of the plan being changed, and finally tender his resignation rather than be the instrument of his army's downfall.
-- Napoleon, "Military Maxims and Thought"
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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