Cornyn Downplayed DOGE’s Changes At The SSA As A “Transition Period” And Claimed That Elon Musk’s “Ponzi Scheme” Comment Meant Social Security Was “Unsustainable,” Which Cornyn Agreed With. According to NBC News, “Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said staffing at the Social Security Administration is still a work in progress for DOGE. ‘They’ve had some layoffs, and then they’ve rehired people. They’re still trying to figure out what the right numbers are. And obviously, the sooner they can get that settled, the better,’ Cornyn said. ‘We’re in a transition period, and there’s going to be a number of changes, plus and minus. And I think — ultimately, I don’t think those kinds of personnel decisions are going to be best made by Congress.’ Asked about Musk’s remark that Social Security is a ‘Ponzi scheme,’ Cornyn said, ‘Well, I think I understand he means that there’s fewer and fewer people working and supporting more and more people, and it’s unsustainable. I happen to agree with that.’” [NBC News, 3/26/25]
2017: Cornyn Effectively Voted Against Requiring 60 Yeas Votes In The Senate To Increase The Social Security Retirement Age. In January 2017, Cornyn effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to the text of the amendment, ““(a) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would— (1) result in a reduction of guaranteed benefits scheduled under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.); (2) increase either the early or full retirement age for the benefits described in paragraph (1); (3) privatize Social Security; […] (b) WAIVER AND APPEAL.—Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under subsection (a). ” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 budget resolution designed to being the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The vote was on a motion to waive a budget point of order against the amendment. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 49 to 49. [Senate Vote 6, 1/9/17; Congressional Record, 1/5/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/9/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 19; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2017: Cornyn Effectively Voted Against Requiring 60 Yeas Votes In The Senate To Reduce Guaranteed Social Security Benefits. In January 2017, Cornyn effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to the text of the amendment, “(a) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would— (1) result in a reduction of guaranteed benefits scheduled under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.); (2) increase either the early or full retirement age for the benefits described in paragraph (1); (3) privatize Social Security; […] (b) WAIVER AND APPEAL.—Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under subsection (a). ” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 budget resolution designed to being the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The vote was on a motion to waive a budget point of order against the amendment. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 49 to 49. [Senate Vote 6, 1/9/17; Congressional Record, 1/5/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/9/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 19; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2017: Cornyn Effectively Voted Against Requiring 60 Yeas Votes In The Senate To Privatize Social Security. In January 2017, Cornyn effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to the text of the amendment, “(a) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would— (1) result in a reduction of guaranteed benefits scheduled under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.); (2) increase either the early or full retirement age for the benefits described in paragraph (1); (3) privatize Social Security; […] (b) WAIVER AND APPEAL.—Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under subsection (a). ” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 budget resolution designed to being the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The vote was on a motion to waive a budget point of order against the amendment. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 49 to 49. [Senate Vote 6, 1/9/17; Congressional Record, 1/5/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/9/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 19; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2015: Cornyn Effectively Voted Against Making It Harder To Privatize Social Security Or Reduce Benefits By Requiring 60 Votes In The Senate. In March 2015, Cornyn effectively voted against an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] create[d] a 60-vote point of order against any legislation that would reduce Social Security benefits, increase the retirement age for benefits or privatize Social Security.” The vote was on a motion to waive a budget point of order, which required 60 votes to succeed. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 51 to 48. The presiding officer subsequently sustained the budget point of order, killing the amendment. [Senate Vote 84, 3/24/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/15; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 471; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
2015: Cornyn Effectively Voted Against Raising The Social Security Retirement Age, Against Cutting Benefits And Against Privatizing Social Security. In April 2015, Cornyn voted for a motion to instruct conferees that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “insist[ed] that the conference report include language that would prevent legislation that sought to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or privatize Social Security.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2016 budget resolution. The Senate adopted the motion by a vote of 84 to 13. [Senate Vote 150, 4/15/15; Congressional Quarterly, 4/15/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
2015: Cornyn Voted Against An Unspecified Expansion Of Social Security Benefits. In March 2015, Cornyn voted against an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution that, according a press release from the office of Sen Elizabeth Warren, would have “support[ed] a sustainable expansion of Social Security benefits and promote[d] the long-term solvency of the Social Security and Disability Insurance trust funds.” According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would have “created[d] a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow for legislation that would expand Social Security benefits, the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund.” The Amendment was defeated by a vote of 42 to 56. [Senate Vote 131, 3/27/15; Press Release – Office Of Senator Elizabeth Warren, 3/27/15; Congressional Quarterly, 3/27/15; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 1094; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
2015: Cornyn Voted For Republican Proposal To “Protect” Current Recipients Of Social Security Benefits And Improve Its Finances; Proposal Did Not Include Pledge To “Protect” Future Beneficiaries. In March 2015, Cornyn voted for an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution that, according to The Hill, “would protect current Social Security beneficiaries, as well as try to improve the solvency of the program.” The Senate agreed to the amendment by a vote of 75 to 24 and subsequently passed the underlying budget. A compromise budget later was agreed to by both sides of Congress. [Senate Vote 83, 3/24/15; The Hill, 3/24/15; S. Con. Res. 11, 4/7/15; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 498; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]