Could Simpson or Boehner Pass the Social Security Test?
October 01, 2010
Crossposted from the AFL-CIO Now blog.
AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee has a great idea for a reality television show. He suggested it as part of a conference call Thursday sponsored by the Strengthen Social Security coalition where participants outlined efforts to combat attempts by the federal budget deficit commission and others to raise the retirement age, cut benefits or even privatize Social Security.
The show would star three people: Deficit Commission co-chair Alan Simpson, who has called seniors “greedy geezers”; House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), who wants to raise the retirement age to 70; and former Lehman Brothers chief executive Peter Peterson, who has bankrolled a major PR campaign to convince the public Social Security is on the brink of disaster. But McEntee admits the show's run might be short-lived.
Give each of these guys the average annual Social Security benefit of $14,000 and make them live on it for a year. But deduct $100 a month for Medicare part B premium and $200 a month for Medigap insurance. When do you think they will stop calling for benefit cuts? Probably after the first episode.
Read more on the AFL-CIO Now blog.
