Zach Nunn swings and misses on Social Security

John and Terri own The Hale Group, an Ankeny-based advocacy firm focused on older Iowans. John had a 25-year career with the Social Security Administration, working in Iowa field offices, the Kansas City regional office, and its Baltimore headquarters. terriandjohnhale@gmail.com

No tax on Social Security benefits!

President Donald Trump has said it. U.S. Representative Zach Nunn has said it.

The problem is: It’s just not true.

WHAT NUNN SAID

Nunn, who represents Iowa’s third Congressional district, recently told reporters at the Iowa State Fair that “The One Big Beautiful Bill made a major commitment for folks on Social Security – that means no tax on Social Security.”

He repeated that commitment on his official website, saying in bold type, “No Taxes on Social Security.”

Those statements were false.

The Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill did not end taxes on Social Security benefits. What it did was create an additional federal income tax deduction for those 65 and over to use in the calculation of taxes owed on all income.

While the experts are still trying to sort out how many taxpayers will be affected and to what extent, one thing is for sure: millions of Americans due to age or income, including tens of thousands of Iowans, will still pay tax on Social Security benefits.

AN IMPORTANT OMISSION

In addition to getting the tax cut part of the bill wrong, Nunn failed to mention that the new provision is temporary.

Curious Iowans might want to ask their members of Congress (all of whom voted for the bill): “If this provision was so important and would help so many people, why does it end in 2028—after the next general election?”

It seems obvious that Nunn and the rest of the Iowa Congressional delegation see short-term tax reductions for some as a vote-getter in upcoming re-election races.

ONE OTHER INCORRECT STATEMENT

At the same Iowa State Fair event, Nunn was asked if this tax break for some Americans could reduce the amount of money going into the Social Security system and move up the date that it would be unable to fully pay benefits.

His response: “That’s absolutely incorrect.” He went on to say that those who believed that should “come and talk with us because we hold forums on this a lot…”

As constituents, we are unaware of any such forums on this topic open to the general public. It’s our understanding that Nunn has held no forums that are announced in advance and open to the public on any topic in the district since taking office.

Because tax cuts in the budget reconciliation bill will result in less money going into the Social Security system, experts have moved up the date when Social Security will no longer be able to pay the full amount of monthly retirement benefits, from 2033 to 2032.

Rather than securing the system, as Nunn has stated, the bill weakened it.

The day of reckoning is known. The only question: will our elected leaders summon up the courage to deal with it now, while it’s an easier problem to solve? Or will they do what they typically do, just talk about it, or delay action by filing meaningless bills calling for more study?

The Social Security funding problem is not complicated; it’s basic math. There are multiple known ways to fix it. The problem is the politics. No one wants to lead. Everyone wants to wait, to avoid voting on something that might not please everyone. If elected officials are afraid of upsetting some people, they should seek another line of work.

Our request of Nunn and our entire Iowa Congressional delegation—do your job. Tackle this issue head on. Now, rather than someday. Be a leader, not a lemming.

THE BOTTOM LINE

We want to trust those we elect to know what they are talking about, and to shoot straight with us. In this case, we got neither. That’s unacceptable.