Finally inching forward on the Social Security dilemma

A bipartisan proposal to force Congress to deal with a looming Social Security solvency crisis doesn't carry much teeth. But it's an important step for a governing body that for generations has shirked that responsibility.

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Editorials

August 3, 2026 - 3:02 PM

Members of Congress for years have metaphorically run for the hills when confronted with the nation’s looming entitlement crisis, opting for inertia over reforms that might be politically risky. But with the Social Security trust fund now set to run dry in just six years — and Medicare not far behind — further inaction will soon be an untenable option.

To that end, eight senators — Democrats Dick Durbin (Illinois), Tim Kaine (Virginia) and Chris Coons (Delaware), and Republicans Bill Cassidy (Louisiana) Thom Tillis (North Carolina), Alan Armstrong (Oklahoma) and John…

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