U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown held a town hall on Social Security in Cleveland on Friday.
Brown, a Democrat representing Ohio’s 11th congressional district, which includes Cleveland and East Side suburbs, was joined by Martin O’Malley, who headed the Social Security Administration (SSA) during the Biden administration.
The event lasted one hour at Benjamin Rose, a nonprofit in Cleveland that supports senior citizens.
O’Malley addressed what he said were myths and “big lies” about Social Security that have been perpetuated by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, which is making cuts to staff at a number of federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration.
O’Malley, who is speaking on Social Security around the country as part of a campaign he’s behind, said fraud affects less than one-half of 1% of Social Security funds. He argued the system is far more efficient than private health insurance companies, which he said have far higher administrative costs. He also said that it’s false that dead people receive benefits.
“There is no zombie apocalypse,” he said, using a line popular on his tour.
As for immigrants without legal status draining Social Security, O’Malley said that’s false. They pay about $26 billion into the Social Security system for Americans while never accessing that for themselves.
O’Malley spoke for nearly 40 minutes, which left less than 20 minutes for questions. The few questions included:
- Where does Elon Musk get his authority?
- When you both organize and lead demonstrations in the streets?
- Will veterans benefits be cut?
- Are demonstrations around the country having an impact on Republicans?
