Americans United, Local Seniors Deliver ‘Social Security Birthday Cake’ to Rep. Jeb Bradley
NHCA, Local Seniors Deliver ‘Social Security Birthday Cake' to Rep. Jeb Bradley's Office, Marking Program's 71st Anniversary
NH Citizens Alliance Calls on Rep. Jeb Bradley to ‘take a stand' - one way or another - on President Bush's Renewed Effort to Dismantle Social Security with a risky investment scheme that would slash guaranteed benefits and explode the national debt
Manchester, NH - New Hampshire Citizens Alliance and local seniors celebrated a special birthday party for Social Security in front of U.S. Representative Jeb Bradley (R-NH 1st)'s constituent office in Manchester today, as August 14th marked the 71st anniversary of the day the Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Celebrants delivered a large frosted ‘Social Security Birthday Cake' to Rep. Bradley, as well as a letter calling on him to ‘take a stand' -- one way or another - on President Bush's renewed effort to privatize Social Security -- a risky investment scheme that would slash guaranteed benefits and further balloon the national debt by nearly a trillion dollars. A copy of the letter is attached below.
"Social Security has been called the most successful government program in the world and has been credited with pulling millions of seniors out of poverty. Social Security has ensured that every generation of seniors for the past 71 years has been able to retire with dignity," said Susan Bruce spokeswoman for NH Citizens Alliance. "And now Congressman Bradley must help ensure that Social Security will be here for us for another 71 years by standing up against President Bush's renewed effort to dismantle it with a risky privatization scheme."
Rep. Bradley endured harsh criticism from NH residents last year after "flip-flopping" and "waffling" on the Bush-privatization proposal that would have raided the Social Security Trust Fund in order to fund private accounts. Bradley had previously stated in October of 2002, "I have taken the pledge. I will not support privatization of Social Security. That is crystal clear." However, in February of 2005, according to the Associated Press, Bradley said he was "open to President Bush's proposal that would do just that." Bradley also wrote in a February 17th 2005 statement: "We need to proceed in a deliberative manner that looks at the different options, which may include personal retirement accounts that can enable our nation to address the looming problems facing Social Security." In June 2006, Bradley's position became even less ‘crystal clear' as he refused to publicly state a position on the Bush privatization proposal until it or another plan turned into legislation. That time came in July of 2005 when U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA), the Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, introduced HR.3304 - legislation that would use the Social Security surplus to help fund private accounts. However, despite repeated calls from NH Citizens Alliance, Rep. Bradley refused to ‘take a stand' on the McCrery privatization bill. [The Union Leader, 10/17/02; Associated Press, 2/19/05; The Union Leader, 2/18/05; Seacoast Online (ME), 6/13/05; HR 3304, 7/14/05]
"Today, President Bush and his allies in Congress are attempting to revive the same reckless privatization proposal that was overwhelmingly rejected by the American public last year. Privatization was a terrible, irresponsible idea in 2005; it's every bit as bad today. Privatization would slash massive benefit cuts for middle-class Americans and explode the national debt be nearly a trillion dollars. And nothing will change the fact that privatization wouldn't add a day to the life of Social Security - not one single day," said Bruce. "It's time for Rep. Bradley to take a stand -- one way or another - on this disastrous proposal that puts at risk the retirement security of millions of seniors, survivors and disabled Americans."
President Bush first hinted at an effort to resuscitate his hugely unpopular privatization proposal during a speech in Washington D.C. on June 27th, 2006 assuring his audience that "now is the time" and that "If we can't get it done this year, I'm going to try next year. And if we can't get it done next year, I'm going to try the year after that." On July 11th, Bush took action with the release of his administration's Mid-Session Budget Review, which includes a proposal to divert $721 billion from the Social Security trust fund to private accounts over the next 10 years - virtually the same proposal which was overwhelmingly rejected by the American public in 2005. Echoing the President's renewed calls to dismantle Social Security, on July 31st, House Majority Leader John Boehner, one of Bush's most powerful allies in Congress, promised to do everything in his power to advance the effort next year, telling the Washington Times : "If I'm around in a leadership role come January, we're going to get serious about it."
"Jeb Bradley, like many of his friends in Congress, likes to play word games with his position on Social Security reform," said Bruce. "Bradley says he has pledged his opposition to privatization, but just a year ago he said he was ‘open' to the President's disastrous plan that would do exactly that and was calling for a hard look at ‘personal retirement accounts.' That's privatization -- pure and simple. Congressman Bradley can call his risky investment scheme anything he wants, but the result is still the same: massive benefit cuts for the middle-class and trillions of dollars in new debt."
NH Citizens Alliance is an affiliate of USAction and state partner of Americans United, the group which led the fight to beat back the Bush-privatization proposal in 2005.
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August 23rd, 2006
U.S. Representative Jeb Bradley:
August 14 marked the 71st birthday of Social Security, the most successful anti-poverty program ever created in our nation. Prior to Social Security, fortunate seniors were cared for by their families, and those less fortunate were sent to poorhouses.
When I was growing up, my father worked for a bank, and when he retired, he had a pension. That's how retirement used to work. The social contract once commonly held in the US has been broken. Companies no longer have to honor their pension plans, or health insurance benefits to retired employees. As you know, I live in the north country, where most people work in the service industry. Many are earning about $10 an hour. The average rent is $800 a month. With the cost of gas, fuel oil, and health insurance, it becomes apparent that most people here aren't able to save for retirement.
It's crucial that Social Security, as it currently exists, is protected for the retirees of the future. The privatized drug benefit, known as Medicare Part D, is proving to be a costly disaster for seniors and taxpayers. It's proven to be a great benefit for drug and insurance companies - who don't really need any government help to turn a profit. We can learn from this - and not make the same mistake by privatizing Social Security. Privatizing Social Security would be yet another payoff to special interests - this time the ones on Wall St. These gifts to corporate America are troubling, indeed, at a time when so many NH residents are struggling to keep their heads above water.
Congressman Bradley, when you campaigned in 2002, you spoke strongly in favor of protecting Social Security, and against privatization. Many people voted for you, believing in good faith, that you would protect them. In 2005, you refused to take a stand one way or the other on protecting Social Security. This is unfair to the voters of our state. You owe it to your constituents to tell them whether you'll be fighting to protect Social Security, or working with the President to privatize benefits, thereby increasing the deficit. We at NHCA urge you, on the birthday of this hugely successful and popular government program, to work to protect the retirement futures of ALL of the voters in our state.
Sincerely,
Susan Bruce
New Hampshire Citizens Alliance