And THERE is the massive social security cut in the bill. Key word: "Defer"

[CousinIT]

9. Progressives sound alarm on Republicans' Social Security sneak attack hidden in coronavirus bill

https://www.alternet.org/2020/03/this-is-a-trap-progressives-sound-alarm-on-republicans-social-security-sneak-attack-hidden-in-coronavirus-bill/

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“The Republican plan would replace Social Security’s dedicated revenue [from the payroll tax] with deficit-funded general revenue, but this is a trap,” explained Altman. “Once the pandemic is done, Republicans will undoubtedly use the general revenue to demand cuts to Social Security in the name of ‘reining in entitlements,’ something they have already expressed their strong desire to do.”

The Senate GOP’s legislation, which also contains a $500 billion “slush fund” for corporations, failed to clear a procedural hurdle Sunday night amid unified Democratic opposition. A second procedural motion to advance the bill also failed Monday afternoon and talks over the measure’s specifics remain in flux.

While ostensibly intended as a form of relief for employers struggling to cope with the coronavirus-induced economic fallout, Social Security Works warned in a letter (pdf) to members of Congress over the weekend that Republican proposal to delay the employer payroll tax is “a Trojan Horse.”

“Social Security Works strongly opposes the McConnell proposal to ‘defer’ the employer Social Security insurance premium (i.e. Federal Insurance Contributions Act payment),” reads the letter, signed by Altman and Social Security Works executive director Alex Lawson. “Even though the proposal is couched in terms of deferral, it is hard to imagine that in January, Congress will truly allow employers’ FICA contributions to rise—or even be restored. Social Security supporters see this for what it truly is—a dangerous assault on our Social Security system.”

“Since there are much better ways to deliver the same relief to employers, we see this as callously using the coronavirus pandemic as a cover for an attack on Social Security,” Altman and Lawson added. “We urge you, as emphatically as we can, to oppose this proposal.”

Last Friday, nearly two dozen progressive advocacy groups representing retirees, veterans, organized labor, and communities of color joined (pdf) Social Security Works in urging Congress to quickly provide economic relief to people and small businesses without cutting Social Security in the process.

“Decreasing or fully eliminating the FICA undermines the foundation of our Social Security system and sets the stage for future demands to cut Social Security, even if the proposal replaces the lost revenue with deficit-funded general revenue,” the groups wrote in a letter to Republican and Democratic congressional leaders.