Miller Blasts Republicans For Plan To Resurrect The Dismantling Of Social Security

Miller Blasts Republicans For Plan To Resurrect The Dismantling Of Social Security

Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today in response to comments by Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA) that Congress should make privatization of Social Security its top priority next year. McCrery is likely to lead the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over Social Security, after Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) steps down at the end of the year.

"At company after company, workers' private pension benefits are being slashed. The typical American worker's 401(k) has a balance that can barely finance a year of retirement, let alone a whole retirement. The only sure thing left for most American retirees is Social Security. But that hasn't stopped Republican leaders from trying to turn Social Security from a guarantee into a gamble.

"If there isn't a change of leadership in Washington, you can bet that Republican leaders are going to make another run at privatizing Social Security and cutting retirees' benefits. It is shocking that the Republicans would make Social Security privatization one of their top priorities after the American public resoundingly repudiated the idea last year.

"Congress should look for ways to strengthen Social Security, not undermine it, and solve the private pension crisis so that all Americans can have a decent retirement. But that's not what Republican leaders have planned. That's why we need a change in Washington - so we can have a new direction for the country."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ed31_democrats/RelJune6.html