Republicans: Pay for Social Security stimulus using recovery act funds

Republican leaders signaled on Thursday they would support the president's plan to award seniors another one-time, Social Security check boost — but only if the president pays for it using recovery act dollars.

The White House announced it was considering the idea earlier Thursday morning, after news broke that Social Security payments would remain unchanged next year because inflation was not high enough to automatically trigger a cost-of-living increase. To combat that, the White House's tentative plan would offer seniors a one-month, $250 boost — a proposal estimated to cost the federal government $13 billion.

But House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said at a press availability Thursday afternoon that he would only support such an short-term stimulus if the White House paid for it using a portion of the $787 billion recovery act Congress approved earlier this year.

"I'd be happy to support the president's proposal if we pay for it out of stimulus funds that have not been spent," Boehner told reporters.

"The stimulus bill is not working. The American people are asking, 'Where are the jobs?' And if we're going to provide this benefit to our seniors, why don't we take it from stimulus funds that clearly aren't getting the job done?'" he added.

That was soon seconded in principle by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who predicted during Thursday's press conference that his members would "try to pay for" the measure in full as well.

"Well, I think the House is going to act first on it. We'll see what form it's in when it comes over to us, and then we'll be able to make a decision as to how to go forward then," he told reporters.

Interestingly enough, it would not be the first time Obama has pursued such a stimulus for seniors. In fact, the billion-dollar stimulus from which GOP leaders want to re-direct the funds already includes a one-time, $250 Social Security boost. The first of those payments went out in May.