Wisconsin GOP congressman pledges to support Social Security, Medicare amid Democrat skepticism: ‘Promises we have made’

Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil outlined his plans to support Social Security and Medicare in his first reelection campaign ad and during a town hall meeting Wednesday, even as Democrats remain unconvinced of his sincerity. 

“Social security and Medicare are promises that we have made to our seniors, promises we need to keep,” Steil told a caller during the telephone-conducted town hall meeting.

Steil said that in order to keep the programs running for future generations, it is essential to grow the economy, without raising taxes or increasing government spending.

“Every person who’s making a better or a higher wage, even at the same tax rate, pays in more. So the more we grow the economy and expand the economy in the United States, the more and better we are positioned to make sure that we’re funding Social Security and Medicare going forward, without raising the tax rates,” Steil said.

He also argued reckless government spending on other, nonessential government programs is putting Social Security and Medicare at greater risk of collapse.

“We need to think about some of the infrastructure investments that we need to make, and be really smart about it. It’s about making sure that our economy is growing. Not that we raise tax rates, but as people are making more money, they’re paying more into the pie. And as we do that, we have another mechanism of protecting Social Security and Medicare,” he said.

But Wisconsin Democrats remain unconvinced that Steil is in earnest, accusing him of aligning himself with conservatives who want to cut the programs during his campaign trail.

“Despite presenting himself as a fighter for everyday Wisconsinites, Bryan Steil has aligned himself with the dangerous Trump-Vance Project 2025 agenda and proven that he is nothing more than another run-of-the-mill MAGA Republican hack,” the state Democratic Party Deputy Communications Director Haley McCoy said in a statement Thursday.

Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, which also does not call for cutting Social Security or eliminating Medicare, according to political fact checker Politifact. 

Steil, who represents Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, also released his first reelection campaign ad Wednesday, featuring his 100-year-old grandmother, “With high prices, many seniors are struggling. That’s why I’m working to protect Social Security, and protect Medicare.” 

Steil’s opponent, former Wisconsin State Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, has also campaigned on protecting federal programs for seniors.