Signing a Pledge to Protect Social Security and Medicare
October 9, 2002.  "Republicans are mounting a stealth campaign to privatize and gut Social Security after the November elections," Gephardt warned.  Democrats have been trying to make an issue of Republican plans for Social Security for months; for example, back in June House Democrats introduced a discharge petition to try to force debate on several Republican bills.  However, the possibility of war with Iraq has pushed the issue to the side. 

This pledge was promulgated by the progressive group Campaign for America's Future.  More than 170 candidates, including about two Republicans, had signed it (www.signthepledge.org). Meanwhile, conservatives circulated a pledge of their own "to support allowing younger workers the option to voluntarily place a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal retirement accounts." (www.socialsecuritychoice.org)

 

Copyright © 2002  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.