House GOP Plans Social Security Draft

[cal04]

House Republicans announced plans Friday to draft Social Security legislation by June as President Bush warned Democratic critics not to "play politics as usual" with his call for sweeping program changes including curtailment of some benefits.
Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters he envisioned legislation that "won't just be a Social Security bill." "It will be a retirement bill," Thomas said, indicating it would also include steps to encourage private retirement savings. He also signaled that the legislation could include provisions to ease the cost of long term or chronic health care for the elderly.

Thomas talked with reporters in the Capitol as Bush made his first public appearance since prodding lawmakers to consider reducing the benefits guaranteed to future middle and upper income retirees as part of a plan to assure the solvency of the Depression-era program. "I have a duty to put ideas on the table, and I'm putting them on the table," the president said in subvurban Falls Church. Va.

The outing was a follow-up to a prime-time news conference on Thursday, and he told his audience that "those who block meaningful reform are going to be held to account in the polls."The president wants Congress to enact legislation that gives younger workers the ability to create voluntary personal accounts as well as place Social Security on a sound financial footing.

He used his news conference Thursday night to pivot away from stressing personal accounts and placing greater emphasis on steps needed to make the program more solvent. Democrats and their supporters seemed unfazed by Bush's political warning.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050429/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush;_ylt=AsXLa.rc.uUz7.qqKH6_iKSyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[BrainRants]

1. It's about time they got off their asses and did the heavy lifting.

Clue to House GOP: You idiots are in charge, stop asking the Dems to put forward a plan, you're the majority. Get to work!

[ewagner]

2. Okay, so that's the plan

The Repubs will draft a totally unacceptable piece of legislation, call it REFORM! They'll power it through the House and and let the Dems in the Senate and a few moderate Repubs kill it. Then campaign in '06 claiming that the Dems have "ruined Social Security Reform....

They've done it before and they're doing it again....

[mbee]

28. I just read that Rove was speaking at Washington College and he

supposedly asked how many people wanted the Bush SS Plan and sixty some percent did not want it!

[Inland]

3. "Encourage retirement savings" equals huge tax cuts for rich.

So we are going to solve the fact that SS is insolvent by making the general treasure even more insolvent. Typical republican bullshit.

[adigal]

4. Bush must be reading the FoxNews poll from yesterday

Bush said:

"The outing was a follow-up to a prime-time news conference on Thursday, and he told his audience that "those who block meaningful reform are going to be held to account in the polls."

What the heck is he drinking? Is he losing his mind? Most polls say that up to 2/3 of Americans don't want anyone to mess with Social Security. Go for it, Chimpie!!!

[jojo54]

6. Check out this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3568505

[jojo54]

5. It's time to step up the pace; keep emailing senators.

These Repukes got nerve!! The chimp saying that Dems shouldn't "play politics as usual". So, he's saying what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander. But that wasn't the case when Clinton was president. These people are hopeless.

[Rainscents]

7. Send emails to all the senators AOL polls!!!

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Wow. Title had me going.

I was envisioning a plan to draft retirees for the war -- the end result would reduce the number of Social Security payments made, not to mention that disabiltiy payments would only be for a limited time rather than 20, 30, 40 years for those who come back maimed.

Ya know, I wouldn't mind seeing Poppy Bush driving a Humvee on the Bagdhad Airport road.

[LynneSin]

9. It's not the Clean Air Act, it'll be the "Clear Skies Initiative"

Hey buddy, we're not dumbass like most republican voters are. Call it was it is - a kinder, gentler way of screwing over the population.

[alfredo]

10. Remember:

The devil is in the details.

What they are saying now will be radically different once they put it before the congress. I guess right now they are finding a perfect name for the bill they will fuck us royally.

[Moderator]

11. kick to combine

[RedEarth]

12. (WP) House Republicans Ready to Move on Social Security

By DEB RIECHMANN
The Associated Press
Friday, April 29, 2005; 1:26 PM

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans announced plans Friday to draft Social Security legislation by June as President Bush warned Democratic critics not to "play politics as usual" with his call for sweeping program changes including curtailment of some benefits.

"House Republicans are ready to roll up their sleeves and do some hard work on Social Security. We look forward to searching for solutions so that younger workers aren't left with an empty promise from the government," said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.


President Bush participates in a conversation on Social Security reform at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church, Va. Friday, April 29, 2005. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert - AP)

Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters he envisioned legislation that "won't just be a Social Security bill."

"It will be a retirement bill," Thomas said, indicating it would also include steps to encourage private retirement savings. He also signaled that the legislation could include provisions to ease the cost of long term or chronic health care for the elderly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/29/AR2005042900091.html

[Mr.Green93]

13. DOA

'bring it on'

[bvar22]

14. Attention ALL Americans

Attention ALL Americans!
george bush*and the Republicans are
trying to STEAL YOUR retirement MONEY and give it to their
RICH FRIENDS on Wall Street!

[Megahurtz]

19. I like that.

:applause:

We should all make flyers to hand out and also stick these in our car windows.

[bvar22]

21. It is a SAD sign of the times.

We live in the era of the Dumbing Down of America. If your politics won't fit on a bumper sticker, its TOO COMPLEX for the majority of the American electorate to understand. That is the #1 Reason John Kerry is not president today.

For a Democrats to get elected in '06 and '08, they MUST DUMB DOWN the campaign. Simple sentences, small words. No speech over 5 mins (MTV attention span).

Very Sad and Desperate times. The decline of a once GREAT country.
:(

[Megahurtz]

26. You are definitely right about that one.

Sadly, it makes sense.

[earth mom]

32. LOVE IT! That should be posted in every city and town in the U.S.! nt

[atreides1]

15. House Republicans to Move on Social Security

Just like the good little Nazi rat bastards they are. No questions, no concerns, kind of makes you wonder what kind of dirt the CIA dug up on these politicians, and that is now in the hands of Karl Rove?

[newscott]

16. Let em draft it

First we'll ridicule it.

Then we'll watch it go down in flames.

[ClintonTyree]

17. The Republicans have a big problem...

and they're NOT going to be able to wiggle their way out of it. They are on record for tying Social Security to the Stock Market, and/or slashing benefits for middle class Americans. NEITHER of these proposals are going to fly with the American public.

Either they're more stupid and arrogant than I thought, or they have SOME advanced knowledge of how this is going to turn out. I can't see how the latter can be true when moderate Republicans are backing away from it already.That leaves "more stupid and arrogant than I thought". Just when I think they can't get any more stupid and arrogant, they push the envelope again and reach uncharted territory.

Never once has it occurred to them to raise the cap on Social Security wages or the age limit. But they "want the Democrats to come up with a plan". Yeah, right. And then they'll take credit for it. No way. Bush is the one the has created this artificial "crisis", let him sink to the fucking bottom with it along with the rest of his ilk.

Screw you, bush baby! :rant:

[babsbunny]

18. On Al Franken

he gave an example that if you make 58,000 a year, they will take 42%? Is that possible? Can we take it to the streets yet? I know, we can't get off work, but what good is a job when they are stealing our money! Our Democracy! Our sanity! I can't take it any more!

[sidpleasant]

36. I think the real reason Republicans insist on stock accounts is ...

... that as the baby boomers retire they'll begin liquidating the hundreds of billions of dollars of stock they hold in 401Ks, IRAs, and other retirement accounts. That means a lot less commissions and management fees for the brokerages that are among the GOP's most ardent supporters. Privatizing SS will offset those losses.

[Zenlitened]

20. There's that "empty promises from the government" line again.

Are the repukes trying to alert the world that the USA has become a deadbeat under their governance?

:shrug:

[Rainscents]

25. Deadbeat USA? I like it!!!

[Zenlitened]

27. I'd like it more if it wasn't MY house they were tearin' down.

They want a return to the dark ages, let 'em go find their own country somewhere else. :grr:

[David__77]

22. Two battle lines: NO privatization. NO cuts in benefits.

Period!

[sam sarrha]

34. my 84 year old mother gets only $600 a month in SS,

[fasttense]

23. What is their problem?

"House Republicans are ready to roll up their sleeves and do some hard work on Social Security. We look forward to searching for solutions so that younger workers aren't left with an empty promise from the government," said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill."

OK, so the younger generation should not be left holding the bag but should the middle aged and middle class be left to pay the bill? And when they borrow the billions required to pay for privatization who will pay the bill then?

Sounds like a lose - lose situation to me. Oh wait the very wealthy and Wall Street will win. That's right, that brush's base.

[sarcasmo]

24. Is that the Kings form of a threat to the Dems? I think Dean needs to

respond to this IDIOT and respond quickly.

[Moderator]

29. kick to combine

[dusty64]

30. House GOP Eyes Social Security Draft

Can there be anymore doubt that the rethugs will push through the destruction of SS against the will of the People? Is it any more obvious that they know they need not suffer punishment from the voters cause they have complete control of the machines?


House Republicans Say They'll Draft Social Security Bill; Democrats See Hurt for Middle Class

By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Apr 30, 2005 — House Republicans injected new urgency Friday into their drive to overhaul Social Security, unveiling plans to draft legislation in June and brushing aside Democratic claims they intend to cut benefits for middle-class retirees.

"I'm confident we're going to get something done," said President Bush, struggling to build support for the centerpiece of his second-term domestic agenda.

After months of little evident progress on the issue, House Republicans said they intended to have legislation before the Ways and Means Committee by June. "It won't just be a Social Security bill. It will be a retirement bill," said Rep. Bill Thomas, the chairman.


Apart from changes in Social Security itself, the California Republican spoke vaguely of steps to encourage private retirement savings. He indicated he may attach provisions to ease the financial burden of long term or chronic care for the elderly.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=717108

[dusty64]

31. Sorry for the dupe

I did a search and it did not come up as posted. I used the word "draft" and this article did not come up as a hit.

The rethugs disconnect with the People is astounding. They will shove their shitty plans down our throats like it or not and do not appear to care about any retaliation from the voters. I have been convinced of voting fraud since I researched the machines' manufacturerers, but this ought to alarm doubters. Where are our "leaders" on this? Until and unless something is done about this critical issue we are truly screwed!

[sam sarrha]

33. this is only to subsidize the stock market which is about adjust to the

real actual value of the stocks, which is about 1/2 of the present value... which will steal 1/2 of the TRILLION'$..$$$$!!! they put into the phony program.. this is a Fraud to subsidize the stock market and a premeditated theft of Deficit dollars, which will bankrupt the country and destroy the government.. which is the NEOCON plan.

in the early 80's people in the present Bus$ government were members of the RayGun government and said that their purpose was to shrink the size of government down to the size that they could drown it in a bath tub and kill it..

Fascists see poverty as a vice, the proof that poor people are poor because they are immoral and "defecient" just like the Nazi's professed.. that is why they don't want to pay them for their work.
http://www.indybay.org/print.php?id=1719333

This is done thru the manipulation of a pathetic Wet Brain Alcoholic Drug Addict Moron. Bu$h has spent the majority of his adult life drunk and stoned.. he is more than obviously brain damaged when you see his earlier videos..

link: http://www.counterpunch.org/wormer1011.thml

[AzDar]

35. "LIFT THE CAP"...It's got to become our battle cry...Everywhere these

thieves show up to tout ss "reform", whomever is able should stand on cue and shout it to the heavens.
I don't think most Americans realize that a very painless way to fix ALL of SS's ills is to simply "LIFT THE CAP". Let's get it out there and extinguish the Wee Cowboy's manufactured crisis!!!!