For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Privatizing Social Security: Still Just Plain Wrong
WASHINGTON —Today before the U.S. Chamber, Rep. Jim McCrery, chairman of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, confirmed what progressives had long expected: Social Security privatization will be a top priority for a GOP-led Congress in 2007. Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) — a key architect of the campaign to protect Social Security — had this to say in response:
"Today's comments by Rep. McCrery confirm that the GOP-led Congress has the wrong priorities.
"When it comes to Social Security privatization, the American public has spoken and Congress needs to listen. President Bush's 2005 push for Social Security privatization fell flat — people saw through his rhetoric and understood that his risky plan would cut guaranteed benefits, saddle future generations with debt and open the system up to Enron-like corruption and greed.
"AFSCME led the fight to protect Social Security in 2005, and we will continue to fight back against any attempts to undermine the retirement security of Americans."
