Another audience, another tax carve out
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DON’T let them eat cake.
- RFK Jr -
@jon-nyc said in Another audience, another tax carve out:
It’s old and new. Remember when all interest was tax deducible?
Remember when sales tax, or any other tax, was deductible?
Losing deductions was supposed to be the tradeoff for lower rates.
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DON’T let them eat cake.
- RFK Jr -
Wait, is she not so subtly saying “we’re going to set you up as legal dope dealers”?
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Uh, no.
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Always remember, Operation Valkyrie was an act of sedition.
Warning: I post things that interest me. Read and comment at your own discretion. -
I don’t know why he doesn’t just promise to remove tax for anyone who votes for him
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I only just discovered that Social Security wasn’t taxed until the 80’s and Sleepy Joe was one of the Senators that put the bill together.
Me/rry/Christmas
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@LuFins-Dad said in Another audience, another tax carve out:
I only just discovered that Social Security wasn’t taxed until the 80’s and Sleepy Joe was one of the Senators that put the bill together.
Do tell.
Was it part of the bill that contained the WEP and GPO provisions?
Always remember, Operation Valkyrie was an act of sedition.
Warning: I post things that interest me. Read and comment at your own discretion. -
@Jolly said in Another audience, another tax carve out:
@LuFins-Dad said in Another audience, another tax carve out:
I only just discovered that Social Security wasn’t taxed until the 80’s and Sleepy Joe was one of the Senators that put the bill together.
Do tell.
During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, major reforms to the Social Security system were enacted, primarily through the Social Security Amendments of 1983. These reforms were designed to address a looming financial crisis in the Social Security program, which was at risk of running out of funds by the mid-1980s. The changes made under Reagan were a result of bipartisan cooperation, notably through the Greenspan Commission, a group formed to study the financial health of the Social Security system.
Here are the key elements of the Social Security reforms under Reagan:
- Increase in Payroll Taxes
One of the central reforms was a gradual increase in the payroll tax rate. The payroll tax, which funds Social Security, was raised for both employers and employees. By the end of the 1980s, the payroll tax rate had increased from 6.7% to 7.65% for both employers and employees (a combined rate of 15.3%).
- Gradual Increase in the Full Retirement Age
The 1983 reforms also raised the full retirement age at which beneficiaries could receive full Social Security benefits. Prior to the reforms, the full retirement age was 65. The reforms initiated a gradual increase, eventually raising the full retirement age to 67 for people born in 1960 or later. This change was intended to reflect the increasing life expectancy of Americans and reduce the long-term financial burden on the system.
- Taxation of Social Security Benefits
For the first time, a portion of Social Security benefits became subject to federal income tax. Under the 1983 reforms:
• If a retiree’s combined income (including Social Security benefits, wages, and other sources) exceeded a certain threshold, up to 50% of their Social Security benefits could be taxed.
• This taxation applied to individuals with income over $25,000 and couples with income over $32,000. Later, in 1993, this taxation level was increased, allowing up to 85% of Social Security benefits to be taxed for higher-income recipients.- Inclusion of Federal Employees
Prior to the 1983 reforms, many federal employees were not part of the Social Security system, as they had their own separate pension programs. The reforms mandated that new federal employees, hired after 1983, would be required to participate in Social Security, expanding the pool of contributors.
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Oddly the Jr Senator from Delaware, still in his 30s at the time, didn’t seem to be a key player in this.
Who was on the Greenspan Commission?
The Greenspan Commission, officially known as the National Commission on Social Security Reform, was established in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan to address the impending financial crisis in the Social Security system. The commission, chaired by economist Alan Greenspan, was composed of a mix of politicians, labor leaders, and business representatives, aiming to provide bipartisan recommendations for reforming Social Security.
Here’s a list of key members of the Greenspan Commission:
Chair:
• Alan Greenspan – An economist who later became Chairman of the Federal Reserve (1987-2006).Key Members (not exhaustive):
1. Robert Ball – Former Social Security Commissioner and a leading advocate for preserving Social Security benefits. 2. Claude Pepper – Democratic Congressman from Florida, a strong advocate for senior citizens’ issues. 3. Senator Robert Dole – Republican Senator from Kansas, later the GOP presidential nominee in 1996. 4. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan – Democratic Senator from New York, known for his work on social policy. 5. Representative Barber Conable – Republican Congressman from New York, a key figure in tax and fiscal policy. 6. Representative Claude Pepper – Democratic Congressman from Florida and advocate for Social Security and senior issues. 7. Representative James R. Jones – Democratic Congressman from Oklahoma, served as a key voice for fiscal responsibility. 8. Lane Kirkland – President of the AFL-CIO, representing labor interests on the commission. 9. Alexander Trowbridge – President of the National Association of Manufacturers, representing business interests.The commission ultimately played a crucial role in formulating the Social Security Amendments of 1983, which included a mix of tax increases, benefit adjustments, and other reforms to ensure the program’s solvency. The recommendations of the Greenspan Commission were adopted with bipartisan support, averting the near-term financial crisis for Social Security.
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My point was that untaxed social security was the norm up and until 1982, so the idea isn’t something all that astonishing or audacious.
