Posted on 05/13/2005 6:24:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Breaking with party leaders, a Democratic congressman plans to introduce Social Security legislation, saying his first commitment is to his constituents.
Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., said Friday: "I have the largest amount of Social Security recipients of any Democrat anywhere in the country. My allegiance to seniors is greater than my allegiance to the Democratic Party."
While Wexler is proposing tax increases that would clash with President Bush's pledge not to expand the existing payroll tax, his legislation was heralded by the White House in part because Democrats had steadfastly refused to offer an alternative to Bush's plan. The president's proposal calls for creating private investment accounts and a new method for calculating future benefit growth.
Democrats have refused to put an alternative on the table until Bush drops his insistence on private accounts, which they say would destroy the Depression-era system by depriving it of critical funding.
"I would be surprised if the president were anything but pleased there is another voice with the courage to stand up and put a proposal on the table," said White House spokesman Trent Duffy. "Obviously we haven't seen the specifics on this plan, but I think the president welcomes anyone who wants to work in a good-faith effort to solve the serious challenges facing Social Security."
Wexler's bill calls for a 6 percent tax on all income above the current $90,000 cap. Three percent would be paid by workers and 3 percent paid by their employer.
At the same time, the bill would reinstitute "pay-go" rules for federal budgeting, requiring that any tax cuts or increase in entitlement spending be paid for either by raising taxes or cutting spending elsewhere. The requirement expired at the end of 2002.
Wexler's proposal, which he will unveil in Florida on Monday, would not require any cut in scheduled benefits or increase in the retirement age, and it does not provide for private accounts.
"The president's approach cuts benefits and it creates a privatization scheme, and on top of that does not ensure the solvency of Social Security," said Wexler, whose district includes the largest number of Social Security beneficiaries of any Democrat in the country.
The congressman said his bill, which has been reviewed by the Congressional Budget Office, would achieve solvency by eliminating the $2.1 billion program shortfall estimated by the nonpartisan agency. Social Security's trustees have pegged the figured at $3.9 billion.
"The president traveled the country for the past two months and effectively challenged the Democrats to make their own plan," Wexler said. "Today, that challenge is responded to."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., recently quashed a meeting in which some of her fellow Democrats were set to discuss Social Security with the head of the AARP and a group of Republicans.
Wexler said he had twice spoken with Pelosi about his plan. While he would not reveal her reaction, he said, "It would be wrong to assume it was a receptive conversation."
Jennifer Crider, a Pelosi spokeswoman, said: "There are Democrats with a lot of different ideas. This is one member's take, but it is not the Democratic plan."
It's a common ailment in the c'Rat party these days.
Must have got it from 'Nazi' Pelosi, the ruler of the NO Deal Party .
How long do you think he took to come up with this solution, 10-20 seconds?
Who`d of thunk.
Ha ha, that's a funny one Bobbie!!!! Either you have a good sense of humor or you lie a lot...
Your allegiance Bobbie, as I see it IMHO, is first to your own sorry a$$. Then it's allegiance to your party. Then maybe the seniors in your district come in third. But then again, maybe your family is third place and the seniors are fourth. Undecided on three and four......
Hey guys, listen up!! The Whitehouse gets it! The rest of the Dems are claiming that Social Security isn't broke. Wexler, by pushing a tax plan, is admitting that it needs fixed! This is GOOD!!
Taxes must be raised, or benefits must be cut. The issue is how much of each, and then the details of how any new taxes would be levied and/or how future benefits would be cut (what would the new rate and/or benefit schedules look like? what would be the degree of progressitivity--if any?)
Since money now is more valuable than money later, the rational choice is to cut future benefits instead of raising current taxes.
They've increased taxes many times, claiming each time that the tax increase would save social security from bankruptcy. But it's still headed for bankruptcy, and the reason why is very simple. Once they get their hands on the additional money, it's out the door to fund their pork barrell spending.
They issue an IOU that can't be paid back unless we increase taxes again later on, and we're right back to where we started from, except that taxes are higher.
There is only one way to prevent that from happening: private accounts that the government can't touch.
Note to 'enry:
Ah - the typical solution to solving an idiotic problem: Raise taxes! The usual gutless, visionless, perverted, moronic, and sissy solution to every problem you folks in government invent and then try to "solve." You and your legislative brotherhood/sisterhood are truly insane - you do the same thing time after time after time and expect a different result. I would suggest coming up for air and checking reality every once in awhile. You would be amazed at what it will do for you!
But he obviously has no allegiance, nor concerns, nor worries about his "constituents" children...
Totally predictable; and, the most likely solution. This is what happens when you arrogantly raise a losing issue. There is nothing wrong with social security that is not equally wrong with every other government program. The push back is going to be a $itch.
It's brilliant on the White House's part. It allows them to frame the debate. The Republicans answer to Social Security is to allow people control of their own accounts. The Democrats answer is a tax increase.
It's ALWAYS the same answer.
So not only is the "solution" to raise taxes, they continue to insult our intelligence with the "employer pays half" BS.
Typical DemoRat solution to every problem.
The money that comes out of our paychecks on payday goes straight to the general fund. The entitlement obligations are paid and the rest is squandered by the politicians. In 2018, the amount of income will equal the obligations. No extra money to squander. The "squander margin" is going to be steadily dropping between now and 2018. The tax and spend freaks are having a fit.
Wexler is a democrat, jewish stooge. He couldn't think his way put of grade school and if he didn't have some boob giving him some talking points he would be a mute.
Wexler only panders to little old liberal jewish ladies in west Palm beach and Boca Raton. He is a snot nose runt that used to get his ass kicked regularly in school for being an insuferable ass.
NO ideas except more taxes from the masses for his little liberal causes. I wouldn't let him walk my dog.
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