EXCLUSIVE: A Republican Plan to Raise Taxes on Pennsylvanians and Potentially End Social Security and Medicare is Massively Unpopular, Poll Shows

Florida Sen. Rick Scott introduced a plan that would raise taxes and could end Social Security and Medicare for more than 2.8 million Pennsylvanians and eliminate Medicaid coverage for 3.5 million residents.

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 millions of Pennsylvanians 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 2.8 million Pennsylvanians
• End Medicaid coverage for 3.5 million residents
• Raise taxes on 36% of people in the state, 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 $800 per year in taxes, according to a White House analysis.

“The Republican plan is a slap in the face to the many Pennsylvania seniors who have been paying into Medicare and Social Security for decades, not to mention the working Pensylvanians that could be targeted under a Republican tax hike,” said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Spokesperson, Rosie Lapowsky. “The contrast is clear: while President Biden and Democrats have cut taxes for working families and laid out a plan to lower costs, Republicans are running on an agenda that would force Pennsylvanians to pay more.” 

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 Pennsylvanians.

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.