Democratic Leadership Refuses to Rule Out Cuts to Social Security

September 23, 2010

That fact would have been featured prominently in a good article reporting on the Republicans’ “Pledge to America” and the response from the Democratic leadership in Congress. Instead, the Post reported without comment a statement from Speaker Pelosi’s office that criticized Republicans for wanting to:

“turn Social Security from a guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble.”

This is a bizarre statement, since the Republican plan does not propose privatizing Social Security. The immediate threat facing Social Security are the plans to cut benefits and raise the retirement age, which are being considered by President Obama’s deficit commission. Both the Republican and Democratic co-chairs of the commission have indicated support for this route.

It would have been worth pointing out that Speaker Pelosi’s statement addressed a policy that is not currently on the agenda, while ignoring one that is. It would be comparable to coming out against the invasion of Brazil in the fall of 2002 when the country was debating the invasion of Iraq.

It is probably worth noting that the Post strongly supports cuts to Social Security.

Comments

Support Cepr

APOYAR A CEPR

If you value CEPR's work, support us by making a financial contribution.

Si valora el trabajo de CEPR, apóyenos haciendo una contribución financiera.

Donate Apóyanos

Keep up with our latest news