Politics

Protecting Social Security at 75

By Karina

In 2005, President Bush and Congressional Republicans tried to privatize Social Security and cut benefits. Democrats and the American people said no. As we celebrate Social Security on its 75th anniversary next month, Social Security is once again under assault by Congressional Republicans. We?re saying no again. Today, dozens of House Democrats took to the House floor to discuss the importance of Social Security and the bedrock promise Americans have earned:

Rep. John Larson, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus (D-CT):

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today to talk about social security. I rise because our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in this past weekend alone have said they want to return, they want to return to the Bush years, they want to return to privatizing social security, they want to do so so that they can help balance the deficit by cutting social security. Can you imagine, had the Bush tax cuts gone through, had the Bush proposal for social security gone through, what would have happened to so many of our citizens during this great recession? People who rely solely on social security would not have anywhere to turn to. The concept and the idea we often criticize our colleagues for saying they have no plan, but in fact they do. They want to privatize social security. Yeah, they want to privatize social security, they want to voucher Medicare, they want to block grant Medicaid and then they want to turn around and take your health benefits and treat them as ordinary income and tax them. Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Democratic caucus, stand firmly behind social security and its benefits to all of the American people.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Co-Chair of the Seniors Task Force (D-IL):

One in every four American households relies on social security, including 33.5 million retirees, 7.8 million disabled workers, and 4.2 million children. Its benefits are modest. The average retiree benefit is about $14,000 a year, less than $12,000 for women retirees, but essential. One in four retirees depends on social security for almost all of their income. On August 14, social security turned 75 years old. It never missed a check and is cherished by Americans of all ages. We’re able to celebrate its anniversary because in 2005 Democrats beat back President Bush’s and congressional Republicans’ privatization efforts. Today, there are new Republicans calling for privatization. Once again, Democrats will step forward to protect and strengthen social security so we can celebrate this national treasure for generations to come.

Rep. Doris Matsui, Co-Chair of the Seniors Task Force (D-CA):

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of social security, and to highlight its importance in the 75 years since its founding. Social security is a pillar of our society, based on the premise that if you work hard and play by the rules, you will have the stability and security of a minimum level of guaranteed income as you get older. And the reality is social security provides nearly all of the retirement income for six out of ten seniors in this country. Mr. Speaker, for 75 years social security has never been a day late or a dollar short. And as we approach this historic achievement, we must commit ourselves to strengthening social security, not privatizing it. We must continue to provide the foundation for Americans’ retirement security for generations and generations to come.

Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN):

It’s a time to reflect on the generations and hundreds of millions of Americans that counted on social security to be there to have dignity in retirement to provide quality of life. There’s millions of stories out there, very similar to the one in my family. As a young man watching my father die of a lengthy illness and a 9-year-old brother at home and a stay-at-home mother watching social security survivor benefits be there to allow my little brother to go on and go to college and my mother to go back in the work force. Many people will say and they are absolutely right, ?Pull yourself up by the bootstraps? They were right of that. We just didn’t have any boots. They were loaned to us by social security. And for that we have paid that back 10 times over. Our family is stronger, our community is stronger, our country is stronger. In August we should celebrate the 75th anniversary and many more to come.

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD):

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the upcoming 75th anniversary of social security and express my support for the financial security of millions of retired Americans. Representing Maryland’s fourth congressional district, I serve many who oversee and administer the social security administration. One of my constituents I had the honor of meeting in a retirement community in Mitchellville, Maryland. Robert M. Ball was one of the chief architects of social security, the program we know today. Mr. Ball was social security’s chief administrator from 1962 to 1973. He was described once as, ?the undisputed spiritual leader and its chief advocate and defender.? He served three presidents, Republicans and Democrats, to make sure it remained strong for all of us. He passed away in January of 2008, but he left a legacy barely known outside Washington, but a program that’s the backbone of America’s social safety net. At a time when Republicans are threatening the privatization of social security, Mr. Ball would say not now. Can you imagine what would have happened a year ago when our nation suffered its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Our seniors would have lost everything and our young people would be starting from scratch. The American people deserve better. Democrats are going to give them better. We need to get our economy back on track, get people back to work, and contribute to social security.

(more…)

Full post as published by The Gavel on July 20, 2010 (boomark / email).