New AUFC Video: Rep. Joe Heck derides Social Security as a “pyramid scheme”

 June 3, 2011

UPDATE from Jon Ralston on Twitter:

RalstonFlash Jon Ralston

@RepJoeHeck on video of him comparing Social Security to a "pyramid scheme" says: "I regret that I misspoke." http://youtu.be/Y6MGfETizuQ

14 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

RalstonFlash Jon Ralston

More @RepJoeHeck: "Those who have followed my position know that I am fully committed to protecting the promise of Social Security.."

14 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Statement from Tom McMahon, executive director of Americans United for Change, formally known as Americans United to Protect Social Security, the group that led the national campaign to defeat President Bush’s effort to privatize Social Security in 2005: “We have followed Joe Heck’s position on Social Security, and far from committing to keeping the safety net in place and future generations out of poverty, the Congressman is on record supporting privatization and letting his friends on Wall Street get their hands on Nevadans’ guaranteed benefits.  Rep. Heck is on record supporting the same risky privatization scheme proposed by President Bush that was overwhelmingly rejected by the people of Nevada.  Did Congressman Heck really ‘misspeak’ when he derided Social Security as a “pyramid scheme” – or was it a Freudian Slip?  Based on his record, it appears to be the latter.”  

Ø  Heck Supports Privatizing Social Security: When asked in an interview with Nevada News and Views “How would you propose to reform the Social Security program?,” Heck replied:  “I believe that any individual should have the right to voluntarily take their portion of Social Security withholding and invest it as they deem appropriate.” [Nevada News and Views, 5/4/10]

See below – Jon Ralston spotlights shocking new video (taped on May 18 at Boulder City Hall by Americans United for Change) of Congressman Joe Heck (NV-3) deriding Social Security as a “pyramid scheme.”   Statement from Americans United executive director Tom McMahon:  

“Social Security has operated successfully as the same pay-as-you-go system it always has since FDR signed the Social Security Act into law over 75 years ago, lifting generations of seniors, survivors and disabled Americans out of poverty. Rather than committing to keeping this cherished social safety net in place for future generations of Nevadans, Joe Heck outrageously likens the program to fraud.  Joe Heck has a lot of nerve calling Social Security a “scheme” especially after voting for the Ryan plan to end Medicare and throw seniors to the mercy of the private insurance companies.  Talk about a real “scheme:” Congressman Heck wants to replace Medicare with ever-shrinking private vouchers and hike seniors’ out-of-pocket costs by more than $6,000 so that millionaires, Big Oil, and job-outsourcing corporations can have another tax break.”

Posted by Kombiz