“Today’s House Budget Committee hearing on creating a fiscal commission to scrutinize Social Security and Medicare was not reassuring. Proponents continue to insist that Congress is not capable of addressing projected shortfalls in the Social Security and Medicare trust funds on its own — that the job must be outsourced to a commission. But we agree with committee witness, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), who said that it is Congress’ job to come up with solutions, not to pass the buck to a commission. Commissions of this kind always focus on cutting benefits and never on the adequacy of benefits. In fact, their main purpose is to give lawmakers political cover for cutting benefits. They routinely neglect revenue-side solutions, such as asking the wealthy to contribute their fair share.
The track record of fiscal commissions is far from stellar. The deadlocked 2010 Simpson-Bowles Commission was unable to come to a consensus, but its two chairs issued a report calling for extensive cuts to Social Security. Nor should the much-touted Greenspan Commission of the early 1980s serve as a guidepost for today. ‘To suggest that the Greenspan Commission provides a model for resolving questions about Social Security’s future would be laughable if it were not so dangerous,’ said Greenspan commission member and former SSA chief Robert Ball, adding, ‘A commission is no substitute for principled commitment.’
On behalf of our members and supporters across the country, we urge members of Congress to vote against a fiscal commission, roll up their sleeves, and legislate improvements to Social Security and Medicare that protect — not punish — current and future beneficiaries.” – Max Richtman, President and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
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Media inquiries:
Walter Gottlieb
Director of Communications
[email protected]
www.ncpssm.org