U.S. Representative Sandy Levin
12th District of Michigan

(Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), Ranking Member on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, today reacted to the news that the majority of the Delegates to the White House-sponsored Conference on Aging overwhelmingly rejected the privatization of Social Security.

“This further confirms that the majority of Americans have solidly rejected the President’s Social Security privatization proposal,” said Levin. “The President may have said he wanted to ‘save and strengthen’ Social Security, but the more he talked about it, the more it was clear that his plan would ‘weaken and dismantle’ it.  President Bush and Congressional Republicans underestimated how deeply Americans value Social Security’s guaranteed benefits, and how hard they would fight to preserve them.” 

During this year’s White House Conference on Aging, delegates assigned to craft the implementation of a resolution to “strengthen Social Security” rejected President Bush’s Social Security privatization plan by 2 to 1. Delegates cast 71 votes against privatization while 29 voted for private accounts. Delegates charged with implementing a resolution on Medicare also rejected the Bush private insurance approach to Medicare prescription drugs, and instead called for a uniform national plan administered by Medicare, as proposed by Congressional Democrats. Delegates charged with implementation also recommended negotiating prices to bring down prescription costs, something prohibited under current law.

“The amount of confusion being created because the drug insurance is complex and limited is so enormous that it could not be stifled even by the White House’s ‘no discussion’ format.  We should listen to the experts who assembled for this conference and take action to help seniors,” continued Levin.

Even after his own conference sent a strong message of opposition to Social Security privatization, Mr. Bush indicated that he will pursue Social Security privatization during the next Congressional Session in 2006.
 
“Mr. Bush continues to be out of touch with mainstream America over issues of retirement security.”

The White House Conference was attended by delegates who were selected by the White House and each member of Congress; delegates selected by Democrats were in the minority. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging, www.whcoa.gov, was held at Marriott Wardman Park in Washington during December 11th through 14th. The White House Conference on Aging occurs once a decade to make aging policy recommendations to the President and Congress, and to assist the public and private sectors in promoting dignity, health, independence and economic security of current and future generations of older persons.

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging occurs as the first wave of the baby boom generation prepares for retirement, creating an important opportunity to creatively assess aging in America and improve the lives of older Americans. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging will be the first WHCOA of the 21st century.
 

(####)

Home Page  |  Press List