Social Security, Medicare reform fight shows divisions among Trump, DeSantis and Pence
CNBC 2023-06-08 17:38:15 • 8 mins
Key Points
- Former Vice President Mike Pence has set himself apart from the GOP primary field through his calls to reform Social Security and Medicare.
- Former President Donald Trump has roundly rejected any cuts to the two programs and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said little about it on the campaign trail.
- Pence slammed Trump and President Joe Biden for sharing the same policy of "insolvency" on entitlement reform.
Former Vice President Mike Pence's White House bid could highlight a clash over Social Security and Medicare that some of his Republican competitors, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have been keeping at arm's length.
Pence, who kicked off his campaign Wednesday, has set himself apart from most of the GOP primary field by talking about entitlement reform, often called the third rail of American politics.
"The biggest drivers of runaway spending are our New Deal and Great Society programs upon which Americans depend every day, Social Security and Medicare," Pence said in his presidential announcement speech.
