Journal Article Myth and Reality of the Safety Net: The 1983 Social Security Reforms
Rudolph G. Penner
Display Date
File
File
Download Report
(93.15 KB)

In 1983 the Social Security Trust Fund was rapidly emptying. President Reagan appointed a bipartisan commission headed by Alan Greenspan to recommend solutions. The commission could not agree. Republicans adamantly opposed tax increases and Democrats opposed any slowdown in the growth of benefits. Finally Senators Dole and Moynihan broke off a rump group that came up with a compromise involving some of each. Later an important, gradual increase in the full retirement age was added on the House floor. Chairman Greenspan later said that compromise would not have been possible were it not for a quiet agreement between President Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill not to oppose the recommendations of the commission.
Research Areas Economic mobility and inequality Aging and retirement Taxes and budgets
Tags Social Security Fiscal policy Individual taxes Campaigns, proposals, and reforms Retirement policy Federal tax issues and reform proposals