Dean: Bush played a shell game last night. Cut benefits for middle class.

[madfloridian]

http://www.democrats.org/news/200504290004.html

Apr 29, 2005

DNC Chair Howard Dean Statement Responding to President Bush's Press Conference
Washington, DC – Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee issued the following response to President Bush's press conference:

"Last night, President Bush offered nothing to ensure the long term solvency of Social Security, the real problem facing the program. Instead, President Bush played a shell game with the facts. Democrats are committed to strengthening Social Security and keeping our promise to pay the benefits that Americans have spent their entire lives earning. The President suggested drastic benefit cuts for middle class Americans that will only weaken Social Security."


BUSH PLAN WOULD CUT BENEFITS FOR MIDDLE CLASS
The more Americans learn about the President's scheme to privatize Social Security, the less they like it. And they didn't hear anything last night to change their minds. Though the President assured seniors they would get their checks, he didn't mention that benefits for middle class seniors would be substantially lower than has been promised. If the President's privatization scheme were in effect today, American workers making $36,500 a year would see their Social Security checks slashed by 28 percent.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. these are the facts we need to have

is there a table showing income and how much SS would be slashed? Seems to me that would be a good table to have at hand.

BTW, I called my conman about this today (he's a repuke), and the aide didn't seem surprised when I said that SS shouldn't be messed with.

[Lydia Guerra]

2. IL-D Rep Jan Schakowsky offers help here

Rep. Jan Schakowsky has, on her website, a Social Security calculator and a GREAT downloadable power-point presentation that she used for a "Town Hall Meeting" traveling around Illinois. It's a wonderful resource! I made paper copies and mailed them to my GOP family members in Red states. Can't argue with facts!

Jan's Webpage:
http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/

Power-Point Presentation (it's animated!):
http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/SocialSecurityTownHallMeetingPowerPoint.ppt#1

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. GREAT LINK!

Thanks for posting

[Lydia Guerra]

9. You are welcome. n/t

[Jacobin]

3. Perfect response

3, 2, 1...waiting for the attacks from the democratic faithful on Dr. Dean.

[Cha]

4. I just hope the middle class is smart

enough to see through this shell game of bush's.

"If the President's privatization scheme were in effect today, American workers making $36,500 a year would see their Social Security checks slashed by 28 percent."

[realFedUp]

5. I like this rapid response from Dean and the DNC

it's a good thing.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Anyone making over $25,000 will see their benefits cut

and those that are well-to-do will not miss Social Security.

[Lydia Guerra]

10. The well-to-do @ $90,000 + per year don't have to pay in to SS

Of course they wouldn't miss it ... of course. Unless they lost their jobs, homes, etc. and then got sick and for lack of health coverage and needed to file for bankruptcy because they could no longer pay the medical bills. Then they'd miss it.

[madfloridian]

7. They just covered this on Majority Report a few minutes ago.

It is shocking.