House conservatives on Wednesday proposed raising the U.S. retirement age to collect Social Security, handing Democrats damaging political ammunition ahead of the 2024 election.
The proposal by the 176-member House Republican Study Committee would gradually increase the retirement age, ultimately hitting 69 years old for those turning 62 in 2033.
The current retirement age for full benefits is 66 and rising gradually to 67.
Democrats successfully used similar proposals from fiscal conservatives to their advantage in the 2022 midterm election. Their message that the GOP was targeting old-age benefits resonated with voters and was credited with limiting Democrats' losses in the House.
Under the plan, which is unlikely to become law, benefits for current retirees wouldn't be cut. But for those expecting an earlier retirement benefit, lifetime payouts would be lower.
Further Privatization
The group has abandoned a proposal from last year that would have increased the Medicare retirement age, but they do seek to further privatize the program.
President Joe Biden and House Republicans got into a shouting match during the State of the Union address in February after Biden said some in the GOP favored cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called the president a liar while others disputed the president's comment.
