WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- A Republican congressman has introduced a bill to end U.S. income taxes on Social Security payments.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said he wants to end the government practice of taxing the benefits twice, the Hill reported.
"Seniors have already paid tax on their Social Security contributions, so taxing Social Security is double-taxing by the federal government," Massie said Tuesday. "Taxing Social Security reduces benefits to seniors."
In a statement, Massie said Social Security is supposed to provide support during retirement, not be another source of revenue for the federal government, the Hill said.
"Taxing these benefits," he said, "is an accounting sleight of hand that redistributes portions of the Social Security trust fund to other areas of government."
The Hill said the proposed Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act -- H.R. 3894 -- is co-sponsored by Reps. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., and Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.
"Congressman Massie's bill blows the whistle on the federal government for double taxing the Social Security benefits of senior citizens," DeSantis said.
The report did not say how much support the proposed bill would have.
