Rep. Rich McCormick Answers Viewer Questions on Government Shutdowns, Debt, Social Security, and Housing

Government Shutdowns and Congressional Pay

• ⚠️ No bill currently exists to prevent Congress or the Senate from being paid during a government shutdown.
• 💡 Congressman McCormick believes that lawmakers should not be paid if essential personnel are not getting paid during a shutdown.
• ✅ He notes that bills exist to ensure essential workers are paid, and that furloughed workers eventually receive back pay.

National Debt and Fiscal Responsibility

• 🎯 The national debt is approaching $40 trillion, posing a significant problem.
• 📉 Cutting all discretionary spending would not be enough to balance the budget.
• ⚠️ Addressing the debt requires a drastic rearrangement of how things are paid for, but nobody wants to cut non-discretionary programs like Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Social Security Reform

• ⏳ Projections indicate that Social Security will not be able to pay 100% of expected benefits by 2033-2034.
• 🔑 McCormick suggests raising the retirement age and making minor tax reforms as potential solutions.
• 🤝 He believes bipartisan bills exist that could shore up Social Security for the long term, but politicians are hesitant to address it due to its political sensitivity (the "third rail").

Affordable Housing Solutions

• 🏠 To increase housing units and reduce costs, McCormick supports reducing taxes on older adults selling their homes to open up the market.
• 🚫 He advocates for preventing corporate entities from buying up all houses for rental purposes.
• 🛠️ Deregulation of the housing process is crucial, as regulatory burdens account for 40% of the cost of new home construction.
• 🌐 Housing solutions require a team effort involving both local and federal government, as well as addressing the cost of building materials.

Combating Spam Calls

• 📞 The epidemic of spam calls from predatory offers is a daily annoyance for everyone, including lawmakers.
• 🔍 Despite efforts to report these calls, a solution has not yet been found.
• ⚖️ Potential measures include fining or charging a nominal fee for mass text or call senders, but agreement has not been reached.

Bipartisan Problem Solving

• 🤝 Congressman McCormick emphasizes that the issues discussed—debt, Social Security, housing, and spam calls—are bipartisan problems.
• 🗣️ He calls for an end to bickering and a focus on getting things done for the American people.