Chris Christie to call for overhaul of social welfare programs


New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Tuesday is expected to propose a series of reforms to Social Security and Medicaid during a visit to the early primary state of New Hampshire. In what is likely a bid to reinsert himself into the 2016 discussion, Christie will outline a series of reforms including a plan to means-test Social Security, raise its retirement age to 69, and eliminate payments to Americans with income above $200,000.
"Do we really believe that the wealthiest Americans need to take from younger, hard working Americans to receive what, for most of them, is a modest monthly Social Security check?" Christie will say, according to pre-released excerpts of his remarks.
As NBC notes, the issue could win Christie "style points with conservative intellectuals," but would risk angering the GOP's base of old, white voters who rely on social welfare benefits.
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Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
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