Dems Prepared for Big Social Security Fight

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday he and other Senate Democrats were prepared to filibuster the Bush administration's "goofy" plan for private Social Security accounts and called on the president to drop the idea and work toward a bipartisan fix for the system, Newsday reported.

Speaking at senior citizen forums in Manhattan and Franklin Square, the New York Democrat asserted that everyone, regardless of age, would face lower benefits if the administration plan were implemented. But Schumer said that was not likely to happen, given the mixed reception to the plan from congressional Republicans and the virtually total opposition by Democrats.

"We would block it with every means at our disposal," Schumer said at a senior citizens' center on Manhattan's Upper West Side in response to a question about whether he would lead a filibuster against the Bush plan. "I have already recommended that (a filibuster) and I've gotten unanimous agreement."

At both appearances, Schumer presented an Internet "Social Insecurity" calculator that purports to show how each individual's retirement benefits would change under the plan. According to the calculator, everyone 55 or younger would lose money, with younger people losing most.

"Many people say, 'Well, this plan may not be good for older working people or even senior citizens, but it's very good for young people,'" Schumer said. "Actually, its not."

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 2/22/05