Tom Rooney: Obama Using 'Scare Tactics' on Social Security Threat

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney signed a letter to President Barack Obama insisting that the federal government continue to keep funding Medicaid, Social Security and military and veterans benefits and salaries even if the debt ceiling is not increased by Aug. 2.

I think its ironic that the president has repeatedly attacked Republicans for our efforts to enact meaningful entitlement reform, yet hes willing to withhold Social Security payments to seniors unless he gets his way on tax hikes, Rooney said on Thursday. These types of scare tactics do nothing to advance the debate or move us closer to an agreement on reducing the deficit.

The president should make it clear that if, for whatever reason, the federal debt ceiling is not increased, he will direct Treasury Secretary Geithner to make all interest, military personnel, Social Security and Medicare payments in full and on time, added Rooney.

Other signers from Florida included U.S. Reps. Sandy Adams, Rich Nugent, Bill Posey and Dan Webster.