Trump’s promise to end taxation on Social Security

Social Security was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It assisted with old age, disability, poverty, unemployment and widows. Originally, Social Security benefits were not taxable income and remained so for the first fifty years.

The Republican Party and some Democrats labeled the original legislation as socialism. Over the decades, the Republican Party opposed Social Security and Medicare as being socialist and too costly. It was primarily the Republican Party and President Reagan who started federal taxation of Social Security benefits beginning in 1984.  

Throughout his campaign, candidate Trump promised to end the taxation on Social Security. 

“People on Social Security are being killed, and one of the things I’m doing is no tax for seniors on Social Security, and I’ll get it done quickly,” he said. 

Will he keep his promise as president to the over 72 million Americans receiving Social Security?

This promise is worth monitoring as the 119th Congress convenes. The Republicans control the presidency, both houses of Congress and, one could say, the federal judiciary. Will the Republican-controlled Congress hinder Trump’s promise? 

Only nine states tax Social Security benefits: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. If these states are financially responsible and solvent without taxing social security, why can’t other states and our national government follow suit?  

Many of these states have costly defined retirement benefits for state and county employees, including first responders such as highway patrol, firefighters, and state game wardens — the list goes on and on. Yet, they don’t tax Social Security.

More than a quarter million Montanans receive Social Security benefits, including 190,00 retired workers, 25,000 disabled workers, 15,000  widows and parents, 7,500 spouses and 14,000 children. Social Security is a critical source of income for most Montanans. Almost 50% of Montanans 65 and older rely on Social Security for at least half their income. Nearly 25 % of Montanans 65 and older live in families that depend on Social Security for at least 90% of their income.

The Republican Party dominates Montana at the national and state levels. Montana’s sole two Congressmen and Senators are Republicans, and Republicans have a significant majority in the state legislature. Since Montana is one of only nine states that taxes Social Security, one has to ask whether Montana Republicans, at the state and federal levels, will support Trump’s promise and end taxes on all Social Security benefit.

I encourage Montanans, whether Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or otherwise, to contact their federal and state representatives to end the unfair and unnecessary taxation on our Social Security benefits.  We need to hold politicians accountable for the promises made to get elected. 

Tom Muri is a fifth-generation Montanan and military retiree who writes from Sedona, Arizona and Missoula. He is from Whitefish.