2009: Rogers Voted To Replace Medicare With A Premium Support Plan. In April 2009, Rogers voted to replace Medicare with a premium support plan, as part of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2010 to 2019. According to the House Budget Committee “To make the program sustainable and dependable, those 54 and younger will enroll in a new Medicare Program with health coverage similar to what is now available to Members of Congress and Federal employees; and they will receive a premium support payment equal to 100 percent of the Medicare benefit.” The vote was on adopting the budget as a substitute amendment, the amendment failed by a vote of 137 to 293. [House Vote 191, 4/2/09; House Budget Committee, 4/1/09; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 75; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 85]
2011: Rogers Voted To Turn Medicare Into A Voucher Program. In April 2011, Rogers voted against preventing Medicare from becoming a voucher program as part of the Democrats’ proposed budget resolution covering FY 2012 to 2021. According the text of the budget resolution, “It is the policy of the House that the Medicare guarantee for seniors and persons with disabilities should be preserved and strengthened, and that any legislation to end the Medicare guarantee and shift rising health care costs onto seniors by replacing Medicare with vouchers or premium support for the purchase of private insurance should be rejected.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the House Democrats’ proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 166 to 259. [House Vote 276, 4/15/11; Congressional Record, 4/15/11; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 259; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 34]
2011: Rogers Voted For FY 2012 Ryan Budget, Which Replaced Medicare With A Premium Support Plan. In April 2011, Rogers voted for replacing Medicare with a premium support plan, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2012 to 2021. According to the Congressional Research Service, “Under the new system, Medicare would pay a portion of the beneficiaries’ premiums, i.e., provide ‘premium support.’ The payments would be adjusted for age, health status, and income and would be paid directly by the government to the insurance plan selected by the Medicare beneficiary. In addition, plans with healthier enrollees, would be required to help subsidize plans with less healthy enrollees.” The vote was on passage; the resolution passed by a vote of 235 to 193. [House Vote 277, 4/15/11; CRS Report #R41767, 4/13/11; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 34]
2012: Rogers Voted To Replace Medicare With A Premium Support Plan As Part Of The FY 2013 Ryan Budget. In March 2012, Rogers voted to replace Medicare with a premium support plan, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2013 to 2022 According to the House Budget Committee, “For those workers currently under the age of 55, beginning in 2023, those seniors would be given a choice of private plans competing alongside the traditional fee-for-service option on a newly created Medicare Exchange. Medicare would provide a premium-support payment either to pay for or offset the premium of the plan chosen by the senior.” The vote was on passage; the resolution passed by a vote of 228 to 191. The Senate later rejected a motion to proceed to consider the House-passed budget resolution. [House Vote 151, 3/16/12; House Budget Committee, 3/20/12; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 112]
2013: Rogers Voted For Replacing Medicare With A Premium Support Plan As Part Of The FY 2014 Ryan Budget. In March 2013, Rogers voted for replacing Medicare with a premium support plan, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2014 to 2023 According to the House Budget Committee, “Beginning in 2024, for those workers born in 1959 or later, Medicare would offer them a choice of private plans competing alongside the traditional fee-for-service option on a new Medicare Exchange. Medicare would provide a premium-support payment either to pay for or to offset the premium of the plan chosen by the senior.” The resolution passed the House by a vote of 221 to 207, but died in the Senate. [House Vote 88, 3/21/13; House Budget Committee, 3/12/13; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 25]
Rogers Advocated For Seniors On Medicare To “Have The Same Choices That Congressmen And Senators Do.” According to the Gannett News Service, “Michigan lawmakers reacting to President Bush's State of the Union speech split along party lines on the president's $674 billion tax cut plan, and on his proposal to tilt Medicare toward managed care and establish a prescription drug benefit for older Americans. The lawmakers also differed on how Bush should handle the threat posed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's programs to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. United Nations inspectors presented a report Monday saying Iraq was not actively cooperating with them. ‘We can't do one other good thing in this country unless we're on solid footing where families are working and can support themselves. The president's proposal is a growth plan for America.’ -Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich. [...] ‘American senior citizens on Medicare should have the same choices that congressmen and senators do.’ -Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.” [Gannett News Service, 1/29/03]
2.21 Million Michiganders Were Enrolled In Medicare. According to MHA, “The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicare enrollment data to reflect Medicare enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split for Medicare between traditional fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA). Statewide, 22% of the total population is enrolled in Medicare. Total Medicare enrollment is approximately 2.21 million with 61% of beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. MA enrollment as a percentage of total Medicare enrollment varies by county, ranging from 45% to 76%. January enrollment is spread across 52 MA plans with up to 30 plans covering beneficiaries in some Michigan counties.” [MHA, 3/22/04]
2011: Rogers Voted For FY 2012 Ryan Budget, Which Raised The Medicare Eligibility Age To 67 By 2033. In April 2011, Rogers voted for increasing Medicare eligibility to 67 by 2034, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2012 to 2021. According to CBO, “Starting in 2022, the age of eligibility for Medicare would increase by two months per year until it reached 67 in 2033.” The vote was on passage; the resolution passed by a vote of 235 to 193. [House Vote 277, 4/15/11; CBO, 4/5/11; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 34]
2012: Rogers Voted To Increase The Medicare Eligibility Age To 67 By 2034 As Part Of The FY 2013 Ryan Budget. In March 2012, Rogers voted to increase the Medicare eligibility age to 67 by 2034, as part of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2013 to 2022. According to the Congressional Research Service, “The budget proposal would gradually increase the Medicare eligibility age to 67. Beginning in 2023, the age of eligibility for Medicare would increase by two months each year until it reached 67 in 2034.” The vote was on passage; the resolution passed by a vote of 228 to 191. The Senate later rejected a motion to proceed to consider the House-passed budget resolution. [House Vote 151, 3/16/12; CRS Report #R42441, 3/29/12; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 112]
2014: Rogers Voted To Raise The Medicare Retirement Age From 65 To 67, As Part Of Rep. Paul Ryan’s Budget Proposal; The Increase Would Be Phased In Starting In 2024 And Completing In 2035. In April 2014, Rogers voted for House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2015 to 2024. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Starting in 2024, the Ryan budget would raise Medicare’s eligibility age — now 65 — by two months per year until it reaches age 67 in 2035.” The House adopted the budget resolution by a vote of 219 to 205, but the Senate did not. [House Vote 177, 4/10/14; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/8/14; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 96]
Mike Rogers Claimed Social Security Needed A “Major Overhaul.” According to American Journal News, “In May 2023, former Rep. Mike Rogers claimed Social Security was in need of a major overhaul. ‘If you deserve it, you should have it,’ Rogers said. ‘But if you don’t deserve it, we don’t want to risk people who have worked their whole lives, paid into the system, and can’t get what they paid in. I think we have to do that and then we’re going to have to say every option is going to have to be on the table. If you’re 3 years old today and your life expectancy is 110, we’re just going to have a rethink about what work looks like and what retirement looks like.’” [American Journal News, 1/31/24]
2.2 Million Michiganders Were On Social Security. According to Bridge Michigan, “Social Security payments will increase an average of $140 per month starting in January for 2.2 million Michigan residents receiving the benefit. On Thursday, the U.S. Social Security Administration announced an 8.7 percent cost of living increase, the biggest increase in more than four decades. In Michigan, more than a third of households, 34.5 percent, receive the benefits, according to the latest U.S. Census Statistics.” [Bridge Michigan, 10/13/22]
Rogers Supported A Plan To Allow Individuals To Invest A Small Portion Of Their Social Security Tax In A Private Investment Fund. According to the Livingston County Daily Press and Argus, “Republican Presidential candidate George W. Bush has proposed a privatization plan to keep Social Security solvent by allowing individuals to invest a small portion of their Social Security tax in a private investment fund. Although Rogers supports the plan, he said his first priority is to let people know their benefits will be there at the same level for current user and it will also be there for future retirees. ‘In the future we will have to make some changes, but benefits will not be changed,’ he said. ‘We need to make it solvent.’” [Livingston County Daily Press and Argus, 8/16/00]
Rogers Claimed That He Would Support A Plan To Allow A Portion Of People’s Social Security Taxes To Go Into The Stock Market For Themselves. According to the Lansing State Journal, “Byrum said she opposes Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush's proposal to let workers invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in the stock market for themselves. ‘It would cost a trillion dollars and cut the solvency by 14 years,'’ she said. Rogers said he would support such investments but only after ensuring that the fund is sound, and that there's no need to raise taxes or cut benefits.” [Lansing State Journal, 11/2/00]
Rogers Claimed That He Would Allow Younger Workers To Privately Invest A Portion Of Their Payroll Taxes “Once The Plan Was Made Solvent.” According to Lansing State Journal, “But Byrum opposed privatizing the federal retirement plan, while Rogers said he would allow younger workers to privately invest a small portion of their payroll taxes once the plan was made solvent.” [Lansing State Journal, 11/8/00]
Mike Rogers Supported Allowing Workers To Use Social Security Benefits To Create Privately Owned Investment Accounts. According to the Gannett News Service, “GOP Reps. Mike Rogers and Dave Camp said they oppose cutting benefits for retirees or people nearing retirement. They favor allowing workers to choose to receive a portion of their future Social Security benefits early to create privately owned investment accounts. That amount would be deducted from their retirement benefits, but the private accounts could earn money if the investments perform well.” [Gannett News Service, 2/27/04]
Rogers Supported Private Investment Accounts For Social Security. According to Gannett News Service, “Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said earlier this year he favors the idea of private investment accounts. He was traveling and not available for comment this week.” [Gannett News Service, 12/17/04]
Rogers Advocated For “Voluntary Personal Accounts” As A Social Security Alternative. According to Rogers’ editorial piece in the Lansing State Journal, “The longer we wait to fix today's pay-as-you-go system, the more costly and difficult solutions become. Personal accounts for younger workers are one proposal aimed at making sure that retirees have the security that was promised during our working years. As someone paying into Social Security, who falls into that younger worker category, I find the idea of a voluntary personal account encouraging.” [Lansing State Journal Op-Ed – Representative Mike Rogers, 2/20/05]
Rogers Supported Giving Individuals “More Control Of Their Social Security Taxes.” According to Ann Arbor News, “U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said he supports giving individuals more control of their Social Security taxes and addressing long-term solvency. Yet how to fund privatization remains a hang-up, he said.” [Ann Arbor News, 4/5/05]
Rogers Was Critical Of Democrat’s Demands To Remove Private Accounts From Social Security Reform Discussions. According to Ann Arbor News, “Rogers was more critical of Democrats' demands to remove private accounts from any pending discussions on reforms. ‘I hope to have an honest debate, but we have not had that yet, I'm afraid to say,’ he told business leaders in the Brighton area at a breakfast meeting last month.” [Ann Arbor News, 4/5/05]
2010: Rogers Wanted To Examine “Every Social Security Reform Option” And Left The Door Open To Privatization. According to The Associated Press, “Should workers be allowed to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government, or should social security be left the way it is? Why or why not?: Rogers: I believe Social Security is a solemn promise. The government must honor its pledge to America's senior citizens who rely on Social Security. As the demographics of Social Security have changed, the workers paying into the fund have decreased dramatically to three workers for one retiree. By 2018, Social Security will pay out more to retirees than it is currently taking in. I also believe that it is necessary to provide future generations with a secure retirement. By examining every Social Security reform option, I am hopeful that Congress can provide a plan that benefits all, especially those who depend on monthly Social Security checks.” [Associated Press, 10/18/10]
Rogers Promised To “Guarantee Benefits To Current Retirees” But Wanted “A Long-Term Retirement Security Plan That Could Allow Younger Workers To Voluntarily Direct A Very Small Percentage Of Their Payroll Taxes Into A Personal Account Under Their Control.” According to a constituent letter from Representative Mike Rogers, “The government must honor its pledge to America's senior citizens who rely on Social Security. Congress must first guarantee benefits to current retires. Then, I do believe Congress should work toward a long-term retirement security plan that could allow younger workers to voluntarily direct a very small percentage of their payroll taxes into a personal account under their control, while ensuring no reduction in benefits for current or future retirees. I also am proud to have worked to increase contribution limits to 401(k) plans to encourage retirement savings.” [Constituent Letter – Mike Rogers Collection At Oakland University, 7/19/06]
Rogers Proposed Allowing Individuals To Invest Their Own Funds. According to Mike Rogers’s responses to a Farm Bureau questionnaire, “I also think that a voluntary system allowing individuals to invest their own funds could be phased-in.” [Mike Rogers Farm Bureau Questionnaire 2, undated from the Mike Rogers Oakland University Collection]
Rogers Proposed Privatizing Parts Of Social Security. According to Mike Rogers’s, “QUESTION: If you believe that Social Security needs to be reformed, please explain ANSWER: […] I favor the ‘lock-box’ concept that gives all Americans that assurance, and I believe that options for privatization of some portions of the plan will strengthen the program for future generations.” [Mike Rogers General Questionnaire, undated from the Mike Rogers Oakland University Collection]