Labor & Employment Law

Could Simpson, Boehner et al Pass the Social Security Test?

By Mike Hall

AFSCME President Gerald McEntee has a great idea for a reality television show. He suggested it as part of a conference call today where participants outlined efforts to strengthen Social Security and combat attempts by the federal budget deficit commission and others to raise the retirement age, cut benefits or even privatize Social Security.

The show would star three people: Deficit Commission co-chair Alan Simpson, who has called seniors “greedy geezers”; House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) who wants to raise the retirement age to 70; and former Lehman Brothers chief executive Peter Peterson, who has bankrolled a major PR campaign to convince the public Social Security is on the brink of disaster. But McEntee admits it might be short-lived.

Give each of these guys the average annual Social Security benefit of $14,000 and make them live on it for a year. But deduct $100 a month for Medicare part B premium and $200 a month for Medigap insurance. When do you think they will stop calling for benefit cuts?  Probably after the first episode.

Others on the press call  sponsored by the Strengthen Social Security coalition included Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Rep Raul Grijalva and Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling.

Sanders and Brown have introduced a resolution opposing raising the retirement age, risky privatization schemes and cutting Social Security benefits, while Grijalva is circulating a letter in the House to the president opposing privatizing Social Security, raising the retirement age and cutting benefits.

Easterling said that with the elections just a month away, the resolution helps voters better understand the issues and where the candidates stand.

There are many who say they support Social Security, but yet choose to be vague and cagey on the details.  The Sanders-Brown resolution helps people press someone for more details:

• Does  a candidate support raising the retirement age?

• Would they cut benefits?

• Would they privatize Social Security and throw it to the whims and greed of Wall Street?

Click here for a copy of the resolution and here for the Grijalva letter.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on September 30, 2010 (boomark / email).