1 year ago
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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that U.S. leaders "need to woody with Social Security" and vowed not to shy distant from entitlement betterment if helium becomes the 2024 Republican statesmanlike nominee.
"We person to look astatine things similar means investigating for the precise affluent [who] don't request to get Social Security," Christie said connected CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"And secondly, for radical successful their 30s and 40s we request to consider, you know, raising the status age," helium said.
Christie, 1 of the latest entrants successful the superior race, delved into his run argumentation level successful betwixt attacks connected erstwhile President Donald Trump, the wide Republican frontrunner. He slammed Trump arsenic a "paper tiger" who has yet to beryllium challenged by the remainder of the field, bashed him for ballooning the U.S. shortage and sounded disconnected connected Trump's caller remarks astir his transgression classified documents case.
"You spot immoderate of this brainsick worldly helium said past night," Christie said connected CNBC, referring to Trump's latest interrogation connected Fox News, erstwhile helium said helium didn't instantly respond to a subpoena for the documents successful portion due to the fact that helium was "very busy."
"How galore rounds of play has helium played successful the 2 and a fractional years since helium near office?" Christie said.
Trump has pleaded not blameworthy to 37 counts including willfully retaining nationalist defence accusation and conspiracy to obstruct justice. His national transgression lawsuit has been tentatively acceptable to spell to proceedings connected Aug. 14, though it's apt to beryllium delayed.
Pivoting to the economy, Christie said "excessive authorities spending" was the basal origin of caller ostentation woes. "We've got to bring spending nether control, we've got to betterment retired entitlement programs," helium said.
Christie besides rejected the anticipation of raising taxes arsenic a mode to code the debt. "You person to revitalize the system to bring much growth, and secondly you person to trim spending," Christie said.
And "we request to woody with Social Security," Christie said, noting that the programme is scheduled to beryllium incapable to wage afloat benefits starting successful 2034.
Politicians are often reluctant to discuss proposals to restructure Social Security and Medicare, 2 highly fashionable authorities programs upon which tens of millions of U.S. seniors rely. Strong majorities of U.S. adults crossed the governmental spectrum consistently accidental they oppose cutting Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Trump has vowed not to chopped the programs, and his nearest competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has backed disconnected his anterior enactment for entitlement reforms.
But Christie said helium "of course" volition speech astir those issues if helium becomes the nominee. "I'm talking astir them close now," helium said.
Christie, 60, faces a steep uphill ascent if helium hopes to overtake Trump successful the primary. National polls of the GOP tract regularly springiness the erstwhile president ample double-digit leads implicit DeSantis, his apical rival. Christie has tended to people successful the low-to-mid azygous digits, and immoderate surveys person shown his favorability ratings underwater among Republican voters.
"Those numbers are nationalist numbers, and nary one's tally a run against him yet," Christie said erstwhile asked astir Trump's polling lead.
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