Rick Scott on Social Security

FactCheck: Yes, sunsetting could abolish entitlements

Sen. Scott introduced S.925, the Federal Agency Sunset Commission Act of 2021, which says, "This bill provides for the establishment of the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to submit to Congress a schedule for review and abolishment of each agency. Each agency shall be abolished unless reauthorized by Congress. For each agency, the commission must schedule a date of abolishment to occur at least once every 12 years."

Scott's legislation doesn't explicitly mention Social Security or Medicare, but they are some of the biggest "Federal Agencies." Scott's denial means he would expect those agencies to be reauthorized by Congress, and hence claims his intent isn't to sunset them. But his legislation would require Congress to vote affirmatively to keep those programs--or be automatically abolished.

Benefits will be reduced if entitlements aren't shored up

Biden appears to have been referring to a proposal from Sen. Rick Scott. Tucked into a policy manifesto Scott released was the line: "All federal legislation sunsets in five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again." Democrats seized on the language as proof that the GOP wanted to do away with the nation's social safety net. Even some Republicans joined in: Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that Scott's recommendation "will not be part of the Republican Senate majority agenda."

In an interview after the speech, Scott said of Biden: "First off, he's a liar." Scott said that he doesn't favor Social Security or Medicare cuts but that benefits will be reduced unless the programs are shored up financially. "He's been lying about me for a year," Scott added.