At Town Halls Across the State, Oregonians Tell Merkley That the Ultra Wealthy Need to Pay More to Save Social Security

Merkley Polled Attendees at His Recent Town Halls in Each of Oregon's 36 Counties on Their Views of How to Prevent Social Security from Going Insolvent

As of 2025, Nearly 965,000 Oregonians Receive Social Security Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the results of a poll given to attendees at his recent town hall meetings across Oregon asking them what steps they would like the federal government to take to ensure Social Security remains solvent and available throughout their retirement.

There was significant agreement by folks at Merkley's town halls on several courses of action:

• Ninety-four percent of respondents felt that the wealthy should pay Social Security premiums on more of their income, including 83 percent who felt the cap income subject to Social Security premiums should be repealed entirely.
• On delivering benefits, 64 percent agreed that Social Security benefits for the wealthiest Americans should be reduced.
• More than half of respondents felt that the Social Security tax should apply to investment income for high-earners.
• There was substantial opposition to several strategies including raising the retirement age and reducing Social Security benefits for all.
• Between Oregon's counties that voted for President Donald Trump and counties that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris, there was virtually no difference in respondents' choices.

Last week, the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees released their annual reports showing that Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund's insolvency date moved up one quarter to late 2032 thanks in part to the passage of the Republican's One Big, Beautiful Bill Act that passed last July.

"Oregonians are extremely concerned that Social Security Trust Fund will run out of money within a few years. They are extremely supportive of taking concrete actions now. I will do everything I can in the Senate to push for a substantive debate now and hopefully Senate passage of Social Security reforms.

"Social Security is an intergenerational promise, and we must ensure that no American has their benefits cut by the Trust Fund running out of money. It's wiser to address this challenge now and not wait until the Trust Fund goes belly up," said Merkley.

The Social Security payroll tax is a mandatory federal contribution that funds the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund. The current tax rate is 12.4 percent, split evenly between the employer and the employee. It is assessed on wage and salary earnings up to an annual cap of $184,500, meaning someone making a million dollars would stop paying into Social Security by the beginning of March each year, while working families are on the hook all year.

At Merkley's town hall meetings across the state, over 1,800 residents responded to the Social Security poll. Additional details on the results are below.

*respondents could select more than one option

Few wanted to raise the retirement age, reduce benefits across the board, or borrow money to invest in the stock market. There was little difference between counties that voted for former Vice President Harris and for President Trump.

Together, the three options with majority support (repeal the cap, reduce benefits for the wealthy, and tax investment income) are enough to ensure Social Security is solvent through year 2100.

See the original survey that town hall attendees took HERE.

For Oregonians experiencing issues with Social Security or other federal agencies, please call Senator Merkley's office in Portland (503-326-3386) and ask to speak to a Constituent Services Representative. Oregonians can also visit merkley.senate.gov/services/help for more information.

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