Democratic Swat Team Here Saturday to Present Social Security Position

Congressmen Kildee, Stupak, Sen. Barcia, Rep. Mayes Team Up With AARP

April 7, 2005
By: Dave Rogers

The Bay County Community Center will be the site of a "GET THE FACTS Citizens Town Hall Meeting" on Social Security on Saturday at 3 p.m.

No, President Bush won't be here.

The meeting will feature four prominent Democrats, includingtwo U.S. Members of Congress, a state senator, a state representative and the state director of the American Association of Retired Persons.

The meeting is part of a nationwide campaign by the Democratic Party to counter proposals by President Bush to reform Social Security by adding private accounts that depend on the stock market for viability.


The notice of the meeting reads:"If you are interested in knowing more abut the current status of our Social Security System, the changes being proposed, how it will affect you, or to have your questions answered, please plan on attending this important meeting."

U.S. Representatives Dale Kildee and Bart Stupak, who represent parts of Bay County, State Sen. James Barcia and State Rep. Jeff Mayes, along with the AARP State Director Steve Gools, will be on hand to conduct the meeting and answer questions.


Co-sponsors of the public session are the Bay County Labor Council, the Bay County Democratic Party and the Bay County UAW CAP Council.

The Democratic Partylaunched its counter-attack on President Bush's proposals for Social Security reform March 8 in New York City. Sen. Hilary Clinton and Sen. Charles Schumer were among the leading lights on the platform.

Democrats contend that plans of the president and his supporters contend allowing younger Americans to invest part of their payroll taxes in personal accounts will undermine the system. They argue that creating private accounts will drive up the federal budget deficit by $5 trillion dollars.

Sen. Clinton pointed out that Social Security provides half or more of the income for 6 out of 10 seniors. It's also a safety net for the disabled and widows and widowers. Some 30 percent of those who receive Social Security get disability or survivor benefits.###