Posted on 02/03/2005 9:10:42 PM PST by TheEaglehasLanded
Democrats on Personal Accounts Adam Doverspike
Back in an era where Senators and Representatives listened to proposals before opposing them, these Democrats endorsed the idea of personal accounts. Here are their own words.
Senators: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): “[M]ost Of Us Have No Problem With Taking A Small Amount Of The Social Security Proceeds And Putting It Into The Private Sector.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 2/14/99)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Press Release: “Durbin Said Due To The Increasing Number Of ‘Baby Boomers’ Reaching Retirement Age, Social Security Will Be Unable To Pay Out Full Benefits … But The Sooner Congress Acts To Avert This Crisis The Easier And Less Painful It Will Be.” (Sen. Dick Durbin, “Reforming Social Security,” Press Release, 9/15/98)
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND): “Fixing Social Security Is An Urgent Priority. It Ought To Be At The Top Of Both Parties’ Agendas.” (Sen. Byron Dorgan, “Fixing Social Security Must Top Both Parties’ Agendas,” Roll Call, 12/6/99)
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND): “The Potential [Social Security] Crisis Should Be Viewed As An Enormous Success, Because It Means That We Are Living Longer And Healthier Lives.” (Betty Mills, Op-Ed, “What Would You Do About Social Security?” Bismarck Tribune, 8/5/98)
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND): “I Was At The Social Security Summit At The White House, Along With 40 Of My Colleagues, Republicans And Democrats. And There Was Virtual Unanimity Of Opinion That We Simply Have To Get A Higher Return From The Social Security Investments.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 1/20/99)
House Members: Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI): “People Can See, I Think, A [Social Security] Crisis Where There Immediate Family Is Affected Even If Not Immediately … This Is Something That Affects Almost Everybody’s Immediate Family.” (Richard A. Ryan, “Social Security Reform Stalls,” The Detroit News, 2/2/02)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY): “I Am One Democrat That Truly Believes That Democrats Will Not Benefit By Doing Nothing On Social Security.” (Rep. Charles Rangel, Press Conference, 1/21/99)
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA): “I Am An Advocate For Investing A Portion Of The Surplus In The Private Sector …” (Rep. Edward J. Markey, Committee On Commerce, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony, 2/25/99)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY): “[I]t’s A Way Of Getting More Money – A Higher Return On The Trust Fund, And Is A Prudent And Good Thing To Do.” (Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Press Conference, 1/21/99)
Former Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-MO): “Why Should Social Security Recipients Be Disadvantaged By Not Getting To Be Able To Have Higher Returns Out Of The Stock Market?” (Rep. Dick Gephardt, Press Conference, 1/21/99)
Clinton: President Clinton: “[Investing] Will Earn A Higher Return And Keep Social Security Sound For 55 Years.” (President Bill Clinton, State Of The Union, 1/19/99)
President Clinton: “[W]hat I Believe We Should Do Is To Invest A Modest Amount Of This In The Private Sector, The Way Every Other Retirement Plan Does. The Arizona State Retirement Plan Does; Every Municipal Retirement Plan Does; Every Private Plan Does.” (President Bill Clinton, Remarks To The Citizens Of Tucson On Medicare And Social Security, Tucson, AZ, 2/25/99)
President Clinton: “[E]ven After You Take Account Of The Stock Market Going Down And Maybe Staying Down For A Few Years, Shouldn’t We Consider Investing Some Of This Money, Because, Otherwise, We’ll Have To Either Cut Benefits Or Raise Taxes To Cover Them, If We Can’t Raise The Rate Of Return.” (President Bill Clinton, Remarks Via Satellite To The Regional Congressional Social Security Forums, Albuquerque, NM, 7/27/98)
the Reid video on Special Report will be right after the current break, please have VCR'S recording
***Lets hope some Republican group has good brain and puts this in an ad campaign to help President Bush get us personal accounts.***
I hope FRers are sending this out to their email lists.
And I'll be listening to Rush tomorrow to see if he's seen it here.
Great post!
You say flip-flop, I say liar!
among other hosts like Gman, Sean, and Mike Gallagher
Looks to me like they were referring to investing a part of the SS Ponzi fund proceeds in the stock market, not just treasury notes, not instituting private accounts for individuals....
The point is they were saying 6 years ago Social Security is in Crisis, they are now saying people who say Social Security is in Crisis now are lying, just like WMD's in Iraq.
When they said Sadaam had them and we needed to get rid of him that was fine and don't question it. When someone else says it a couple of years later their liars.
Bush wants to use the private sector investments to get a better rate of return and so did they.
Before the market took a drop in 2000 it looked a lot better as an investment..an excuse they will probably use this time around..of course SS is in a crisis, Congress belongs in jail..if any private company sold a plan like SS, the owners would be in jail...
**
Great job . I bet there are even more back between ,94 and ,99 . Great . The press should be doing there job too. At least we have Fox and talk radio ;-)
This needs a BUMP for the early morning Freepers.
BTW, here's some info on Reid's income in the late 90's
His wealth could be as high as $4.9 million, according to his disclosure statement.Real estate holdings account for most of his financial worth. His most lucrative properties include 100 acres in Bullhead City, Ariz., and an office building at 428 S. Fourth St. in Las Vegas. Both could be worth as much as $1 million.
Income that Reid received off his assets last year amounted to at least $146,207 and may have reached $357,721.
Reid also donated to charity $4,000 he received for two speeches -- one to Marriott International in Bethesda, Md., and the other to Sierra Pacific Resources in Reno.
For liabilities, Reid listed two loans: one with a range of $15,001 to $50,000 and another between $50,001 and $100,000.
As for his positions outside government, Reid is president and trustee of Harry Reid Ltd. and of HARRY REID PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING TRUSTS. He is a partner of Reid & Alverson Ltd. The entities are in Las Vegas.
bump
good info on dingy harry, also fox news had quotes from january 17, 1935 of fdr saying he expected social security to go to personal accounts eventually.
Social Security Activism
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1345432/posts
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