Sen. Landrieu Hosts Open Forum on Social Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
03/11/2005
Sen. Landrieu Hosts Open Forum on Social Security
BATON ROUGE -- U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) hosted more than 200 constituents for "A Louisiana Conversation on Social Security" at the Old State Capitol building here today. The vibrant discussion gave Louisianians an opportunity to share their thoughts on Social Security reform and ask questions of a panel of experts representing multiple points of view. The free event was open to the public and took place within minutes of President Bush taking the stage before a ticketed audience in Shreveport to present his plan for privatizing Social Security.
Sen. Landrieu was joined on stage by economist Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic Policy Research; Ken Grossinger of the AFL-CIO; Craig Eichelman of AARP; and a former New Orleans Councilman, Republican Scott Shea, now of Generations Together, an advocacy group supporting the President's privatization plan. Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, Rep. Charlie Melancon and State Treasurer John Kennedy also attended.
"Fear is a very effective motivator; but just because it is effective doesn't mean it's right," Sen. Landrieu said after the event, referring to the President's comments that the Social Security system is "in crisis" and "flat bust." She added: "Today, panelists from both sides of the debate explained a lot of these big numbers we keep hearing tossed around, and a lot of people left with more clarity and understanding."
"Good decisions are based on facts and discussions like those we've shared today, not on hype and fear. I hope the ongoing debate on Social Security will be one that casts more light than heat, as we've shown to be possible here."
In her opening remarks to the forum, Sen. Landrieu also said: "The President has described Social Security as 'bankrupt.' But that is not what the Congressional Budget Office or the Board of Trustees for Social Security tell us. According to a non-partisan group of CBO economic analysts, the system will remain solvent for 47 years into the future -- when President Bush will be 106 years old.
"There is a problem on the distant horizon, however, and the beneficial part of the President's call for privatization is that it has riveted the nation's attention on Social Security at a time when incremental steps taken today could have significant payoffs in the future. In fact, there have been minor and major amendments to Social Security all along the way, including most recently an effort led by President Reagan and Senators Dole and Moynihan in 1983."
"This afternoon, we will discuss whether we should essentially continue down this tried and tested road of making incremental changes that strengthen Social Security, or whether we should take the more radical -- and some would say risky -- approach that the President has laid out."
http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/04/2005314C28.html