The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Social Security is the most effective and popular government program. It provides retirement benefits and survivors-disability insurance to more than 70 million Americans, including over 1.3 million Wisconsinites. It helps lift older adults and many children above the poverty line. However, the Social Security trust fund that pays retiree and survivor benefits faces a shortfall by 2032. By then it will have to address the shortfall or reduce monthly benefits by about 22 percent (Washington Post).

But this economic problem is easily solvable despite the naysaying of Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson. He has falsely called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.” The Washington Post has refuted Johnson: “Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme, a fraudulent investment that pays early investors with money from later investors in an attempt to appear profitable. It is an earned benefit program for seniors and disabled Americans funded through payroll taxes that has never missed a payment … .”

Democrats and some Republicans disagree with Johnson and support a straightforward economic fix to save Social Security. “This starts with a common-sense solution: lifting the Social Security payroll tax cap” (Ohio GOP Senator Bernie Moreno and Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren). The current cap is $184,500. “Since the vast majority of Americans make less than that, most people are paying Social Security taxes on 100 percent of their earnings while the highest earners are paying on only part of theirs. Why should a middle-class nurse pay a larger share of her paycheck than a wealthy corporate lawyer?” (Moreno and Warren).

They are not alone in advocating this fair-minded reform. The Washington Post headline blared: “Social Security funds running dry. Some Republicans say it’s time to raise taxes” (lifting the payroll tax cap). “Now the idea is emerging as an acceptable fix among other GOP lawmakers, including (Oklahoma) Rep. Tom Cole, the influential chair of the House Appropriations Committee.” Lifting the cap would provide the revenue for funding and saving Social Security (NYT). Let’s do this.

“This is a no-brainer: the wealthiest Americans, who have benefited the most from America’s opportunities, should contribute the same percentage of their income as a factory worker in Chillicothe, Ohio, or a teacher in Worcester, Massachusetts” (Moreno and Warren). Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin agrees with Moreno and Warren. When will Johnson stop being an accountant solely for the wealthy and an apologist for Trump and Musk?

Johnson said: “Musk is probably one of the most brilliant, accomplished, effective human beings that have ever walked on planet Earth.” However, Musk threw Social Security into chaos with his lies about fraud, blatant violations of privacy and cutting thousands of Social Security workers, including 91 in Wisconsin (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — CBPP). “The loss of thousands of employees hit key customer service positions hard …” (CBPP). Phones are unanswered, questions unresolved and benefits delayed or worse. 

Americans are anxious and fearful. Lifting the Social Security payroll tax cap would be an important step in reassuring all Americans.

Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.