by Mary Savage
Social Security is on the ballot this election year, and opposing legislation that creates a fiscal commission, or Social Security commission, should be everyone’s top priority in the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress to be held after the Nov. 3 elections. “Lame duck” is political slang for an elected official at the end of their term. The danger of a lame duck session is that politicians can vote against the interests of the American people and get away with it. They’re out of office and won’t have to face voters or another election. In other words, they don’t care.
A fiscal commission is secretive, elitist and un-American. The regular and democratic process of Congress that includes hearings, public input and a public vote by lawmakers is the American way to go. Remember that the Social Security Trust Fund is set to send out payments reduced 22-25 percent by 2032. A retired person, for example, who gets $2,000 a month, will receive only $1,500. Millions of Americans – seniors, disabled, widows/widowers, children – depend on their monthly Social Security payment. Republicans say they have to reduce the debt, but Social Security contributes nothing to the debt. We don’t want to privatize or raise the retirement age or impose means testing. We want legislation to raise the FICA wage cap so the wealthy pay their fair share into the trust fund. Right now, the FICA wage cap is at $184,500 – way too low.
This is why we should be alarmed that on Monday, Sept. 21, House Republicans held a budget hearing in Dallas, Texas (not Washington, D.C. where Congress and committees usually meet) to create a secret, closed-door commission to cut Social Security and Medicare. They thought the hearing would remain quiet, but word got out and heroic members of Social Security Works, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and a reporter from ‘Lone Star Left’ showed up. Only three were allowed into the hearing that was oddly held on private property.
What’s even more alarming is the hearing was seemingly for an audience of one: billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow, who has been linked to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas through decades of unreported luxury travel, property transactions and other questionable financial support. (Who reading this just sarcastically thought to themselves: “Ethics? What are ethics?” or courageously uttered out loud, “Sugar daddy”?) The hearing was held at Old Parkland, a private complex owned by Crow, when Congressional guidelines on field hearings require the use of public space.
Members of Social Security Works and the Alliance for Retired Americans and brave reporter Michelle H. Davis from ‘Lone Star Left’ were given the run-around by staffers who gave conflicting times for the public to enter the building, leaving senior citizens and disabled persons out in the Texas heat while only the three were allowed into the air-conditioned building.
Where was the press? The media? NPR blathers about “the market” and “global” this and that, but when it comes to real news that impacts ordinary Americans … it’s crickets.
Thankfully, YouTube commentator Kenny Hesse of Real American spent an entire show talking about the scandal of a hearing and the treatment of public citizens. Sam Seder of the Majority Report talked about it, as well, as did Thom Hartmann on his YouTube show.
Everyone needs to keep up with the news from alternative media and not depend on the mainstream media these days. Your earned benefits and quality of life are at stake. Below are links to the story and videos so you can see for yourself what happened at the scandal of a hearing.
Link to the ‘Lone Star Left’ story ‘Congressional GOP Gave Harlan Crow Private Hearing In Dallas, Seniors Waited Outside’ is at: tinyurl.com/iguana2596.
Link to the Really American video with host Kenny Hesse: tinyurl.com/iguana2593