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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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Social Security Investment Accounts, Indexing in
Bush Budget
Reform ideas that never caught on in 2006 are back in
the 2007 budget
Feb. 6, 2006 – There were so many things grabbing
the public's and media's attention in the $2.77 trillion federal budget
for FY 2007 presented yesterday, that many senior citizens may have
missed that the President has put private investment accounts and the
indexing of benefits (determining payments by need) for Social Security
back on the table and in the budget.
Read
more...
Social Security Reform Has Withered but Program Still Needs
Help
Author Nancy Altman says the problem is not
that hard to solve
Feb. 1, 2005 – Social Security Reform, a buzz
phrase for the last few years, seems to have come and gone on the agenda
of President George W. Bush, as indicated by the lack of support in his
State of the Union last night. There is, however, a financial problem for
the program somewhere out there in the future. Nancy J. Altman, an
author and former assistant to Alan Greenspan, says in the following
opinion piece that the program is still vital and financial security is
not that difficult to achieve.
Click to
read her opinion...
President Tells His Friends Why Social Security
Needs Reform, Now
Aug. 4, 2005 – President Bush, obviously relaxed
speaking among friends yesterday in Grapevine, Texas to the American
Legislative Exchange Council, gave his personal views of the Social
Security program and why the projected shortfalls in future years need
to be addressed now. He also continued to push for personal savings
accounts. All though there was nothing new, the presentation stands out
for being more of an open discussion than the prepared speeches – laced
with “bullet points” - he most often gives on the subject.
Read more...
House Republicans Zero in On GROW Accounts for
Social Security
More details on this reform plan released by Ways &
Means subcommittee
June 30, 2005 - The Republican leadership in the
House of Representatives made it clear yesterday that they plan a vote
this fall on Social Security reform and they are pushing a bill from the
Ways and Means Committee's subcommittee on Social Security. Chairman Jim
McCrery (R-LA) on Tuesday released a few more details on their idea for
"GROW Accounts," a scaled back version of the private investment
accounts proposed by President Bush.
Read more...
House Leaders Pledge Fall Vote on Personal Accounts
for Social Security
Poll shows support for Bush proposal continues rapid
decline
June 29, 2005 – The Associated Press reported today
that Republican leaders in the House are ready to push for a fall vote
on a scaled back version of President Bush's call for personal
retirement accounts. At the same time, USA Today is reported a new poll
showing the public opposition to the Social Security reform plan pushed
by President Bush has reached an all time high.
Read more...
Latest Social Security Proposal Creates GROW
Accounts
Called the McCrery-DeMint bill it would use surplus
to fund private accounts
June 23, 2005 – Another Social Security reform
proposal was announced yesterday under the marketing-oriented name of
“GROW Accounts,” which the bill sponsors say stands for “Growing Real
Ownership for Workers.”
Read more...
Bush Gives Nod for Top Republican to Offer Social
Security Bill Without Private Accounts
 Sen. Bennett told Salt Lake Tribune he plans two
bills – one with investment accounts
June
21, 2005 – President Bush has given his approval to Social Security
legislation that does not include private investment accounts, according
to the Associated Press. Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) has said he may
introduce his bill as early as next week. It may be more political
strategy than the AP report suggests, since the Salt Lake Tribune
reported last week that Bennett intends to offer two bills – one that
does include provisions for private investment accounts.
Read more...
Americans Deciding Social Security Reform Not Such A
Hot Idea
War bounces back as top concern, Social Security
drops to second, Medicare barely mentioned, drug prices drop off chart
By Tucker Sutherland
June 18, 2005 – A poll was released yesterday that
indicates the public is losing interest in Social Security reform after
the initial push by President Bush in January drove it to
the number one issue concerning U.S. voters. By February had over-shadowed the war in Iraq and the economy as the top issue
Americans wanted addressed by Washington. The headlines from this Harris
Poll, however, were about the continued decline in the job approval ratings for
the President, but certainly part of this is due to his insistency on
reforming Social Security.
Read more...see
charts
Bush Targets the Young with Social Security Reform
Pitch
Radio address turns to energy and Medicare
prescription drug plan, which is not without controversy
June 11, 2005 – President George W. Bush soft
peddled Social Security reform and directed the comments he did make at
younger people in his radio address today. He spent more of the radio
time on energy and Medicare reform, subjects he hopes will play better
with senior citizens and others.
Read more...
Social Security Is Just Plain Tax!
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
May 18, 2005 – One of my favorite business writers is
Dallas Morning News columnist Scott Burns, who often writes about issues
important to senior citizens. A recent column points out that the payroll
tax, including Social Security, is just a plain tax and it hits the middle
income Americans the hardest. He proposes “to privatize Social Security for
young workers and guarantee the benefits of older workers and retirees with
a national sales tax.” To read this column
Click Here.
Oscar Winner Olympia Dukakis Makes Video Opposing
Social Security Private Accounts
May 2, 2005 - The Alliance for Retired Americans
today released a 12-minute educational video narrated by Oscar-winning
actress Olympia Dukakis that highlights the perils of Social Security
privatization. Urging seniors to fight privatization for the sake of
their children and grandchildren, the video "Saving Social Security" is
designed to counter President Bush's repeated claims that seniors will
not be affected by privatization and only private investment accounts
can save Social Security.
Read more...
Did the Bush Score on Social Security?
Earlier Poll Says Public Likes Less in Social
Security for Wealthy, But No Cuts in Benefit Growth
April 30, 2005 – The Pew Research Center went back
and looked at extensive public polling they did in February to see how
the latest ideas proposed by President Bush might fair with the public.
Not too surprisingly, they do not like the idea of slowing benefits but
they do favor limiting benefits for the wealthy.
Read more...
Complete Text
Bush Proposes Social Security System that Tilts
Toward Poorest Retirees
President does not add much to his Social Security
proposal but enough to stir the pot
 April
28, 2005 – In a news conference during prime time tonight, President
Bush revealed a little more about his strategy for making changes to
Social Security and reaffirmed his support for private investment
accounts. Although still lacking details, tonight the President said he
would favor a system that tilted Social Security benefit payments in the
future toward the lowest income retirees. He suggested this might be the
bottom 30 percent. (Below is the text of the speech and question and
answer session with Social Security highlighted in yellow)
Read more...
Social Security Reform Moves to Senate Today, “With
and Without Personal Accounts”
April 26, 2005 – The debate over Social Security
reform will take a big step today toward defining the issues as the
Senate Committee on Finance opens a hearing entitled “Proposals To
Achieve Sustainable Solvency, With and Without Personal Accounts.”
Read more...
 Fed Governor Lays Out Plan to Finance Social
Security and Medicare
Gramlich proposes removing wage caps, extending
retirement age
April 21, 2005 – In what may be the most specific
proposals for this political debate about meaningful reform of Social
Security and Medicare were presented today by Edward M. Gramlich, a
Federal Reserve Governor, who says raise the retirement age and remove
the cap on the wage level for Social Security taxes.
Read more...
Opinion: Special to SeniorJournal.com
Strengthening Social Security for our Children and
Grandchildren
 By
John W. Snow
Secretary, United States Department of the Treasury
April 15, 2005 - In his most recent State of the Union
Address, President Bush spoke directly to seniors, saying, “I have a message
for every American who is 55 or older: Do not let anyone mislead you; for
you, the Social Security system will not change in any way.”
Read more...
Social Security is Short of Funds Because
Politicians Spent It
Fund should have $3.7 surplus in 2018 from what baby
boomers have paid
March 21, 2005 – The reason the Social Security
Trust Fund is expected to start showing a deficit in about 2018, rather
than a surplus, is because the money paid in – primarily by the baby
boomers – has been spent by the politicians. When Al Gore proposed in
his campaign for President to create a “lock box” to protect these funds
only for Social Security, George W. Bush countered that he would do the
same. It did not happen. Like his father and President Clinton, he used
the funds for other government expenses.
Read more...
Greenspan Rehashes Social Security Speech for Senate
Aging Committee
March 15, 2005 – Federal Reserve Chairman Alan
Greenspan presented a rehash of his speech on Social Security at a
hearing this morning of the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging that was
entitled “Exploring the Economics of Retirement.” He highlighted the
economic burden of baby boomers reaching retirement, the Congress
breaking the “lock box” that once secured Social Security funds and his
favoring of private investment accounts that take the money out of the
hands of the Congress and President.
Read more...
Sen. Hagel Introduces Bill To Extend Social Security
Retirement to 68
 First
Social Security Bill of this Congress also supports private investment
accounts
March 7, 2005 – While President Bush prepares to
begin a two-month grassroots campaign to win support for the private
investment accounts in Social Security, a Republican Senator, Chuck
Hagel of Nebraska, will introduce a bill today calling for increasing
the Social Security retirement age from 67 to 68 in 2023. It is the
first Social Security bill to be introduced in this Congress.
Read more...
including Hagel speech and details of his plan.
Social Security Debate
Is President Bush Backing Off Private Investment
Accounts?
Speaking to reporters he emphasized plans to maintain
Social Security’s solvency
March 3, 2005 – The Social Security ball was
bouncing all over Washington today but there seem to be some indication
that President Bush is changing his emphasis to assuring the solvency of
the program and away from adding private investment accounts. But, at
the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan was sticking with the private
accounts. There were other major moves, too. Republican Senate Leader
Bill Frist said he was misquoted about saying he would delay a vote on
Social Security until next year and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said
the private accounts proposal was distracting to the issue of saving
Social Security.
Read more...
Private Investment Accounts Rapidly Losing Support
Says Tracking Poll
 March
2, 2005 – Support for adding private investment accounts to the Social
Security system has been declining steadily since the first survey by
the Pew Research Center last December. Americans favoring the proposal
has dropped from 54 percent to only 46 percent. The youngest Americans,
those under 30, are the only ones who have increased their support. The
new poll was released today.
Read more...
Democrat House Members Say Social Security Has
Changed Strategy to Match Bush Agenda
Feb. 28, 2005 – A group of Democrat House members,
led by the party’s House leader Nancy Pelosi, released a report today
that they say shows how the Social Security Administration has modified
its communications strategy to undermine public confidence in Social
Security. Read
more...
Opinion
White House Social Security 'fact sheet' is anything
but
By Robert Weiner, former chief of
staff, House Aging Committee
Feb. 25, 2005 - Last week's White House fact sheet
on Social Security contains anything but the facts. It asserts that by
2027 the government will somehow have to come up with an extra $200
billion a year, and by 2033, more than $300 billion. The "Strengthening Social Security for Future
Generations" report goes on to predict that by 2042, "the system will be
bankrupt."
Read
more...
Attack on AARP Starts with the Dirtiest of Politics
by Swift Boat Gang - USA Next
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
 Feb.
22, 2005 - The political hatchet men who brought us the Swift Boat ads
in the last presidential election, have launched their avowed
assassination attempt of the AARP with an ad showing an X over a soldier
and a check mark over two kissing men which is labeled "The Real AARP
Agenda." USA Next, a right-wing political group, is angry because AARP
opposes the privatization of Social Security proposed by President Bush.
Read more...
Our Opinion
Social Security: Senior Citizens Should Sink the
Swift Boaters; Throw a Life Preserver to AARP
Let's strengthen the system we have now, before
considering private accounts
By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com
Feb. 21, 2005 – The battle over how to reform
Social Security is about to get ugly. The Bush team hopes to squash the
AARP by using some of the same tactics they used to dispatch John Kerry
in the presidential race. The people responsible for the infamous “Swift
Boat Veterans” campaign are now gearing up to sink AARP because of their
opposition to the Bush plan to take money out of the Social Security
program and put it in private investment accounts.
Read more...
Greenspan Likes Social Security Private Accounts,
But Urges Caution
 Feb.
17, 2005 – Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said yesterday he approves the
idea of private investment accounts, but added, “…you have to do
it in a cautious, gradual way.” This remark came in a question and
answer period with the Senate Banking Committee after he made the
semi-annual presentation on the economy.
Read more...
(Complete text of Greenspan testimony is below this article)
Social Security Can Last Forever With Big Benefit
Cuts, Says Congressional Budget Office
CBO Director today presents facts, figures, charts to
House committee
Feb. 9, 2005 – The director of the Congressional
Budget Office said today that Social Security is “sustainable for the
indefinite future” in some form. The bad news is it would require
benefit cuts of 20 to 30 percent to match the declining revenue stream.
Read more...
Concord Coalition
President Has No Funds in Budget to Reform Social
Security
Feb. 7, 2005 - No funds have been set aside in
President Bush’s new budget for Social Security reform, says the The
Concord Coalition. Vice President Cheney said only a day earlier that
the private accounts proposed for Social Security will cost “trillions
of dollars.” It appears the administration, which has indicated it may
have to borrow $750 billion in the next 10 years, is pushing the real
cost for into the future.
Read more...
Cheney Tells Fox News Private Accounts to Cost
Trillions
Feb. 7, 2005 – The
most details yet revealed about President Bush’s Social Security plan
were presented yesterday on Fox News Sunday by Vice President Cheney who
said the private investment accounts will cost “trillions” of dollars.
The show’s host, Chris Wallace, brought the subject up late in the
interview. Following is the complete text of the Social Security
discussion. Read
more...
Social Security Hearing by Senate Aging Committee
Presents Balanced Testimony
Chairman Gordon Smith conducts his second hearing;
first in series on Social Security
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
Feb. 6, 2005 – If the second hearing conducted by
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) of the Senate Special Committee on Aging is an
example, seniors can expect more balance in the testimony than was often
provided in hearings by the former chairman. Last week’s hearing focused
on Social Security and had balanced testimony and good information by
the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the General Accounting Office
(GAO), AARP, the Concord Coalition, and the Heritage Foundation. It was
the first in a series on this topic.
Read more...
AARP Answers State of Union, Again Opposing Private Accounts
They say they are working to strengthen Social Security “not dismantle
it”
Feb. 3, 2005 – AARP has strongly opposed suggestions by President Bush
for the establishment of private investment accounts for those who pay
Social Security taxes. They responded to last night’s State of the Union
address, which focused on Social Security, with a new statement of their
opposition. Read more...
Social Security Mentioned 18
Times in State of Union Speech
President Bush assures seniors
Social Security will not change for them
Feb. 3, 2005 – President George
W. Bush made “Social Security reform” the major topic of his State of
the Union address last night. He said the words “Social Security” 18
times in the speech and addressed senior citizens directly saying, “I
have a message for every American who is 55 or older: Do not let anyone
mislead you; for you, the Social Security system will not change in any
way.” And added, “We must guarantee there is no change for those now
retired or nearing retirement.”
Read more...
Guest Opinion
Social Security: Greater Returns For Whom?
By David J. Roberts
Associate Professor of Accountancy, DePaul University
(Mr. Roberts teaches tax policy)
Jan. 18, 2005 - In the debate over whether we should add personal
accounts to Social Security, proponents have long argued that higher
returns on investments through personal accounts are needed to save
Social Security. But the whole concept of "returns" in a social
insurance program like Social Security is deceivingly complex.
Read more...
Wild Weekend of Social Security Debate Shows Where
We Are Now
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
Jan. 17, 2005 – It was a wild weekend for the
debate on changes to the Social Security system, with the politicians
and partisan groups blasting away on radio, television and in the Sunday
newspapers. President Bush got it started with his Saturday morning
radio program that evoked the name of Franklin Roosevelt and the
Democrats blasted back all weekend. The New York Times started a new
debate by reporting that some Social Security Administration staffers
were claiming they were ordered to back the Bush plan.
More...
1/17/05*
Guest Opinion
Bush Social Security Proposal Is a Rip-off of Baby
Boomers
Jan. 17, 2005 -Baby boomers beware! You have contributed more to Social Security than
any other generation, but there are those who would rip you off. You
have gone that extra mile and prepaid the cost of your own retirement in
addition to paying the cost of the generation that has preceded you, but
you are being used as scapegoats for the problems facing Social
Security. So writes Allen W. Smith in his continuing crusade for
Social Security and his books on the topic.
More... 1/17/05*
Guest Opinion
Is the Bush Social Security program just another
attempt at clever fraud?
 By
Jewel Littenberg
Senior Advocate, TV Talk Show Host
of "Issues, Answers and More... With Jewel" T.E.N., The Education
Network, Palm Beach, Florida.
Jan. 12, 2005 - The real battlefield concerning
the privatization of Social Security is the minds of the American
people. More...
1/12/05*
President Bush Kicks Off Social Security Reform
Campaign
 Jan. 12, 2005 – President George W. Bush yesterday
participated in a discussion on Social Security reform at the Andrew W.
Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. and many viewed it as his kick-off
of the new campaign for Social Security reform. There is still no
specifics of his plan but step number one appears to be to emphasize the
idea that the program is in crisis. Below is the complete text of the
discussion. More...
1/12/04*
Concord Coalition Wants Social Security Reform but
Questions Privatization
Jan 8, 2005 – The bipartisan Concord Coalition
favors reform of the Social Security system and urges action, but in a
New York Times ad appearing tomorrow, they express serious questions
about the private investment accounts proposed by President George W.
Bush. They do urge Washington to "confront the hard choices that a
meaningful Social Security reform plan requires" and to "reject both the
'do nothing' approach and the 'free lunch' plans that rely on
substantial long-term borrowing to appear painless."
More... 1/8/05*
Social Security Privatization Opposed by Seniors, Favored by
Younger People: Gallup Poll
Jan. 5, 2005 - Fifty-seven percent of those under age 50
favor the proposal to allow workers to invest a portion of their Social Security
taxes in the stock market, compared with only 37% of those aged 50 and older,
says the Gallup Poll. Read this poll and Gallup's survey of other polls below.
More... 1/05/05*
Battle Over Social Security Gets Hot But White House
Not Talking
White House not denying report benefits will be
reduced, AARP launches campaign against privatization
Jan. 4, 2005 – The battle of making changes to the
Social Security program heated up tremendously today with a report by
the Associated Press saying “The White House is refusing to confirm or
deny a report President George W. Bush may recommend a plan to cut
Social Security benefits.” AARP also launched a major campaign today to
stop privatization of the system.
More... 1/4/05*
Bush is Selling a Trojan Horse, Says Author of 'The
Looting of Social Security'
Greenspan wrote plan in 1983 that was to save Social
Security
Dec. 15, 2004 - "President Bush is trying to sell
his privatization proposal as a plan to save Social Security, when it is
actually a clever scam designed to destroy the program that
conservatives have hated since its enactment in 1935," says economist
Allen W. Smith, Ph.D., author of the book, "The Looting of Social
Security: How the Government is Draining America's Retirement Account."
More... 12/15/04*
Bush Vows to Not Raise Payroll Taxes to Pay for
Social Security Reform
Dec. 9, 2004 – President Bush met today with Social
Security Trustees in the Oval Office and declared he will not raise
payroll taxes to fund the shortfall expected in payment funds for senior
citizens if younger workers are allowed to divert part of their payroll
tax to private investment accounts, which he has made a priority of this
administration. More...
12/09/04*
Guest Opinion
Social Security Investment Accounts Would Be
Dangerous For Seniors
By David J. Roberts,
Associate Professor of Accountancy, DePaul University
Nov. 13, 2004 - President Bush has indicated that,
in his second term, the creation of personal accounts under Social
Security will be a top priority. Proponents of so-called personal
accounts (to use the more politically marketable terminology for what is
really partial privatization) typically argue that such accounts are
needed to save Social Security. But partial privatization would not
likely "save" Social Security, and would probably cause serious harm to
seniors and long-time participants in the current system.
More...
11/13/04*
Bush Says Social
Security Reform a Top Priority
Nov.
4, 2004 – In his first news conference after winning re-election,
President Bush made it clear today that making changes in the Social
Security system will be a top priority. He also said yesterday in his
victory speech, “We'll strengthen the Social Security for the
next generation.”
Click to story
and news conference video... 11/04/04*
Social Security & Medicare
in Crisis
Feb. 25, 2004 - There has been a rising
crescendo of statements and reports, particularly from the federal
government, that very large cuts and changes need to be made in Social
Security, Medicare and Medicaid - critical programs for aging America.
As Americans live longer,
exploding numbers depend on these programs for survival and the national
and state budgets are strained. It is a crisis everyone has seen looming
in the future but the deficits during the Bush administration have made it
more imminent.
Federal Reserve Chair Alan
Greenspan, a media favorite, has brought the debate for reform to the
national spotlight with his call for reductions in Social Security and
spending changes in Medicare.
Greenspan Says Cut Social Security to Reduce Deficit
He also wants adjustments in Medicare spending Feb. 25, 2004 - Testifying today before the House Budget Committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan urged cuts in Social Security to correct the problems caused by the Bush deficit.
Click here to read his testimony
Reaction:
Answers to reporters by White House Press Secretary Scott McClelland -
Click Here*
More
Reactions - Social Security & Medicare in Crisis
Promoters of Social Security Investment Accounts Poised Jan. 21, 2004 - President Bush renewed his call for investment-based changes to the Social Security in his State of the Union address and one of the groups that has pushed hardest for this proposal is set to provide information. The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) has available these quick links to the plan that would allow younger workers to invest a portion of their taxes into personal retirement accounts.
> NCPA's online home for Social Security reform: http://www.TeamNCPA.org
>
Quick Facts from the NCPA: http://www.mysocialsecurity.org/quickfacts/index.html
>
NCPA Research on the need for reform and related issues: http://www.ncpa.org/pub/sos.html
>
NCPA's reform plan: http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba417/
>
NCPA study on reform and stock market risk: http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st244/
Reports in 2003
Long-Term Budget Outlook by Congressional Budget Office U.S. Facing Economic Peril Due to Programs for Seniors Dec. 22, 2003 – The rapid growth of the senior citizen population – principal recipients of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – is putting the U.S. in serious financial peril, according to the Long-Term Budget Outlook just released by the Congressional Budget Office. (See charts)
More... 12/22/03*
AARP Issues Statement on Pull Back from Ties With Administration on Social Security Reform Dec. 17, 2003 - AARP, stung by the criticism of their support for the Medicare reform bill, has now pulled back from an effort to promote Social Security reform that was to have included the Social Security Administration and the National Association of Manufacturers. Follow this link to their statement -
Click Here 12/17/03*
GOP Begins Drum Beat
to Privatize Social Security
Dec. 2, 2003 - With a Medicare bill that
broadens the roll of private insurance companies in protecting the
health of senior citizens now awaiting just the President's
signature, the Republicans have begun the drum beat to bring the
private investment community in for a slice of the Social Security
pie. This column by Jack Kemp, former GOP VP candidate, captures
their argument well.
More 12/02/02 Copley News
 This
is a link to the Social Security reform page at Jack Kemp's
EmpowerAmerica.org -
Click
Here
Another
conservative Website pushing private investment accounts for Social
Security is the Institute for Policy Innovation -
Click Here
In-Coming Senate Aging
Committee Chair Says Social Security Needs Fix Now
GAO chief says Congress
has "a window of opportunity" that will close as boomers retire
Jan. 16, 2003 - At a hearing yesterday on
Social Security, the in-coming chairman of the Special Committee on Aging,
Sen. Larry Craig, hailed a new, non-partisan General Accounting Office report
on Social Security and said if Congress does not act soon, the problems will
only be harder to fix later.
Click 1/16/03*
General
Accounting Office Says:
Bush Social Security
Investment Accounts Mean Higher Taxes, Higher Retirement Age, Benefit Cuts
Jan.
15, 2003 - The Social Security personal investment accounts recommended by
President Bush's commission would require tax increases, raising the
retirement age and benefit cuts, according to a new report by the General
Account Office. Click
1/15/03*
Reports in 2002
Fewer Americans
Favor Private Investment of Social Security Taxes
Negative
View of Social Security, Proposal still gets majority approval
Oct. 8, 02 - A recent
CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll finds that Americans continue to have a
negative view of the overall health of the Social Security system. Now, more
Americans see the investing option as riskier. Social Security remains an
important campaign issue, and the Democratic Party's perceptual advantage on
the issue appears to be increasing.
Click 10/8/02*
People Like Social Security As Is, Says Washington Poll
Washington residents
preferred the guaranteed income of the current Social Security system over
proposals to allow workers to invest part of their Social Security taxes in
individual accounts but want the program to be supplemented by additional
retirement plans and savings for people to live comfortably in retirement,
according to a poll paid for by the
Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI).
Click 8/20/2*
Opposing Views on Social
Security Reform: GOP vs Democrat
Trying
to understand the debate over Social Security reform is a challenge.
SeniorJournal.com considers it today's top political challenge and we are
pleased to present to you opposing views by two distinguished members of
Congress. Read them both and you will have a better understanding of the
debate.
Democrat View by
former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez -
Click
Republican View by Sen.
Larry Craig -
Click
Despite Enron Debacle Bush Still Favors Investing Social Security
By Tucker Sutherland, Editor, SeniorJournal.com
March 1, 2002 - Many thought the Enron collapse and the devastating loss of employee pension funds as the company's stock declined would be the end of the campaign proposal by President Bush to allow Americans to invest part of their Social Security funds in corporate stocks. Yet, the President is back pushing for this idea. Click 3/1/2*
President's Latest Speech (Complete Text) on Social Security Reform. 3/1/2
President's Speech Compete Text) to National Summit on Retirement Savings 2/28/2
Reports in 2001
Bush
Commission
Stirs
The
Social
Security
Pot
Final
Report
By
Bush
Commission
on
Social
Security
Is
Released
The
President's
Commission
to
Strengthen
Social
Security
presented
it's
final
report
on
Dec.
11,
2001,
and
it
stirred
up
opponents
and
supporters.
The
focus
of
the
debate
continues
to
be
the
recommended
individual
investment
of
Social
Security
funds.
Click
12/11/1
This
is
a
link
to
a
pdf
version
of
the
report
released
Tuesday
by
the
Commission
-
Click
Statement
by
AARP
CEO
Bill
Novelli
in
Response
to
the
Expected
Report
of
the
Commission
to
Strengthen
Social
Security
-
Click
12/11/1*
Women
Oppose
Commission
Recommendations
-
Click
12/11/01*
Seniors'
Coalition
Applauds
Personal
Account
Provisions
-
Click
12/11/1*
Bush
Panel
Says
Social
Security
Is
Broke!
July
20,
2001
-
A
commission
assigned
by
President
Bush
to
redesign
Social
Security
offered
a
bleak
appraisal
of
a
"broken"
system,
warning
that
deep
benefit
cuts,
tax
increases
or
"massive"
federal
debt
are
inevitable
unless
Congress
allows
the
personal
retirement
accounts
the
White
House
favors.
Click
•
This
links
to
draft
report
(Aug.
2001)
in
PDF
-
Click
Privatization
Will
Push
Social
Security
into
Deficit
Earlier,
Says
President's
Commission
Advisor Aug.
20,
2001
--
The
most
commonly
discussed
proposal
for
partially
privatizing
Social
Security
will
make
the
program's
financial
condition
worse,
not
better,
according
to
information
from
Stephen
C.
Goss,
the
chief
actuary
for
the
Social
Security
Administration
and
technical
advisor
to
the
President's
Commission
to
Strengthen
Social
Security.
Click
8/21/01
President's
Commission
on
Social
Security
Has
Website
The
controversial
commission
appointed
by
President
Bush
to
make
recommendations
has
launched
a
website
and
you
can
contact
them
here
to
give
them
your
thoughts.
click
to
site
Bush
Names
Social
Security
Commission
"Social
Security
is
one
of
the
greatest
achievements
of
the
American
government,
and
one
of
the
deepest
commitments
to
the
American
people. For
more
than
six
decades
it
has
protected
our
elderly
against
poverty
and
assured
young
people
of
a
more
secure
future. It
must
continue
to
do
this
important
work
for
decades
to
come,"
said
Bush
in
naming
the
commission.
Click
for
complete
statement,
list
of
members,
executive
order
5/02/01
Reports in 2000
>
Concord
Coalition
Ran
Ad
Sunday
on
Social
Security
Questions
9/30/00*
The
Concord
Coalition
has
placed
a
full-page
advertisement
in
this
Sunday's
New
York
Times
(October
1,
2000)
offering
voters
hard
facts
and
five
questions
to
ask
the
candidates
about
Social
Security
reform.
>
How
Social
Security
Proposals
Effect
Women
9/20/00
About
75
percent
of
unmarried
elderly
women
depend
on
Social
Security
for
at
least
one
half
of
their
income,
and
25
percent
of
unmarried
elderly
women
depend
on
it
for
their
only
source
of
income.
The
Republican
National
Committee
unveiled
an
ad
touting
George
W.
Bush's
plan
to
revamp
Social
Security,
joining
the
Democrats
in
what
is
likely
to
escalate
into
an
arms
race
of
televised
propaganda
powered
by
soft
money.
> Calculator to Help You Understand Social Security Proposals Coming Monday
5/19/00*
NCPA will unveil a new online Social Security benefits calculator Monday, May 22, to help illustrate what Social Security reform really means to average Americans.
> Bush Says Put Part of Social Security in Stocks
5/16/00
Presidential rival Al Gore condemned the idea as a dangerous gamble that would turn the solemn obligations of the 65-year-old retirement plan into "a system of winners and losers."
> Sen.
McCain, Two Dems Propose Special Commission on Social Security 5/05/00
> Bush, Gore Spar Over Social Security 5/04/00
> How Social Security Change Effects You 3/24/00
> Gore, Bush Battle Over Social Security 3/24/00
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