Wexler Celebrates Social Security's 70th Anniv.
Political Desk
August 12, 2005
Current System must be Preserved and Strengthened for Future Generations of Americans
(Washington, DC) Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) joined millions of Americans across the nation in celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Social Security. On August 14, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act creating a program that would be "simple, guaranteed, fair, earned and available to all Americans." Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security for America's seniors and has also provided critical support to those families who have lost a spouse or who have been left permanently disabled - unable to work. It is the most successful anti-poverty program in our nation's history - where more than 90 percent of seniors receive benefits and almost 15 million Americans have been helped through Social Security disability and survivor benefits. The 70th anniversary of this program comes at an auspicious time as President Bush and Republicans in Congress have proposed a misguided Social Security plan that includes privatization and deep benefit cuts and will do nothing to ensure the long term solvency of the current system. Without Social Security, millions of Americans would be left to live in poverty.
In May, Wexler introduced the Social Security Forever Act of 2005 - guaranteeing all Americans 100 percent of their Social Security benefits upon retirement. Wexler's legislation would impose a 3 percent payroll tax on wages above $90,000, with an employer match. The proposal also institutes a pay-as-you-go "paygo" budget measure that will help to reduce future debt and safeguard the Social Security Trust Fund by requiring future Congresses to pay dollar for dollar for any new tax cuts or spending programs they enact.
"As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Social Security, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to preserve and strengthen a program that has helped millions of Americans stay out of poverty. Democrats in Congress have won the short-term battle of exposing the President's Social Security plan for what it really is - a risky privatization scheme that will dismantle our current system, increase our national debt by trillions and drastically cut benefits for future generations of Americans. I am proud to have offered a Social Security plan that will fortify our current system - ensuring that all Americans receive the benefits they so rightly deserve. I only hope that President Bush and Republicans in Congress take their shortsighted plan off the table and work constructively with Democrats to protect the integrity of our nation's Social Security System rather than destroy 70 years of success," Wexler said.
Congressman Wexler is a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
(Washington, DC) Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) joined millions of Americans across the nation in celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Social Security. On August 14, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act creating a program that would be "simple, guaranteed, fair, earned and available to all Americans." Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security for America's seniors and has also provided critical support to those families who have lost a spouse or who have been left permanently disabled - unable to work. It is the most successful anti-poverty program in our nation's history - where more than 90 percent of seniors receive benefits and almost 15 million Americans have been helped through Social Security disability and survivor benefits. The 70th anniversary of this program comes at an auspicious time as President Bush and Republicans in Congress have proposed a misguided Social Security plan that includes privatization and deep benefit cuts and will do nothing to ensure the long term solvency of the current system. Without Social Security, millions of Americans would be left to live in poverty.
In May, Wexler introduced the Social Security Forever Act of 2005 - guaranteeing all Americans 100 percent of their Social Security benefits upon retirement. Wexler's legislation would impose a 3 percent payroll tax on wages above $90,000, with an employer match. The proposal also institutes a pay-as-you-go "paygo" budget measure that will help to reduce future debt and safeguard the Social Security Trust Fund by requiring future Congresses to pay dollar for dollar for any new tax cuts or spending programs they enact.
"As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Social Security, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to preserve and strengthen a program that has helped millions of Americans stay out of poverty. Democrats in Congress have won the short-term battle of exposing the President's Social Security plan for what it really is - a risky privatization scheme that will dismantle our current system, increase our national debt by trillions and drastically cut benefits for future generations of Americans. I am proud to have offered a Social Security plan that will fortify our current system - ensuring that all Americans receive the benefits they so rightly deserve. I only hope that President Bush and Republicans in Congress take their shortsighted plan off the table and work constructively with Democrats to protect the integrity of our nation's Social Security System rather than destroy 70 years of success," Wexler said.
Congressman Wexler is a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Print
Email
