Omaha World Herald - Bruce Braley Stops in Council Bluffs, Advocates Minimum Wage Increase

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By Maggie O'Brien

U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley said Thursday that he would work to protect Social Security in part by raising minimum wage.

At a campaign stop in Council Bluffs on Thursday, the Democratic congressman said that boosting the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would mean higher incomes and more Social Security taxes flowing into the program.

Braley also said he is against proposals to privatize Social Security, which he said would put benefits at risk during a recession.

Senior citizens, many of whom have lived through several economic downturns, "have seen why this safety net is so important," Braley said.

Braley, 56, is seeking Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tom Harkin, a Democrat who is retiring after 30 years in the Senate. Braley's stop in the Bluffs was the last of nine round tables he held recently across the state to discuss the future of Social Security and Medicare.

Braley's Republican opponent is State Sen. Joni Ernst. In a statement released this week, Ernst, 44, said Social Security needs to be protected for current senior citizens, though she said changes are needed when it comes to younger workers' benefits.
She accused Braley of having a "do-nothing approach" that would allow the system to go broke.

About 15 people, mostly retirees, attended Thursday's event at the Council Bluffs Public Library. Bill Bieder, a retired ironworker from Council Bluffs, said he wants to ensure that Social Security is available for future generations.
"The main thing I worry about is my kids," said Bieder, a Braley supporter. "Where's their protection?"

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