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Seniors Ask…Why Social Security Now?
By NCPSSM | May 7, 2009
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s promise to put Social Security reform on the legislative agenda this fall has many seniors asking…why? America’s retirees understand the need to strengthen Social Security for future generations. For them, Social Security isn’t just a political issue — it’s what pays the bills. But given the long list of critical challenges this nation faces right now…it’s hard to imagine why Social Security would share space at the top of the legislative priority list with issues like health care reform, economic recovery and climate change. After all, Social Security is able to pay full benefits for at least 30 more years.
Here’s Roll Call’s coverage of Hoyer’s comments:
“Of our entitlement programs, I believe we would have the easiest challenge in reforming Social Security,” Hoyer said. “Frankly, I believe Social Security is not very difficult mathematically. It may be difficult politically, but not mathematically.”
But again, why now? Some worry Social Security will be used as a bargaining chip in the healthcare debate, others see this as part of ongoing efforts to balance the budget through entitlement program cuts.
Thankfully the House leadership understands that fast tracking such important legislation through Congress is not the way to go. Congress Daily reports:
While some lawmakers have proposed forming a commission to reform entitlements and the tax code, Hoyer said he preferred to go through regular legislative order, adding that he wants the public to be engaged in the entitlement reform process. “If the incentives are going to change, the voters have to be the ones to change them,” Hoyer said.
Legislation creating an entitlement commission was also introduced yesterday. The SAFE Commission would fast-track Social Security and tax reforms through just six town hall meetings before creating a report. Then within 60 days of this report, the commission would submit a legislative proposal that would be subject to an up-or-down vote within another 60 days.
Leaving seniors to ask not only, “Why now? but also “Why the rush?”
Topics: Social Security, entitlement reform | 2 Comments »
May 8th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hoyer says he wants the public to be engaged.
This is just a lie. He wants the public to think the public is engaged. The public has almost no input, the public doesn’t know much, and the public is prevented from knowing much.
Social Security is paid for for at least thirty years, but if they can force a change now, they can moot the money that the Congress owes to the people who have paid the “extra” Social Security tax for the last twenty five years.
The reason for the rush is the same reason any attackers hope that surprise and speed will overwhelm the defenders before the defenders can react.
The reason they want to do it now, is because they have always hated Social Security… they really don’t like it that workers can look forward to a reasonable retirement. And they are afraid that the longer they wait, the more likely it will be that the people will realize that there is no “crisis.”
May 8th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Except the one they are creating themselves
by trying to steal your Social Security out from under your nose.