From dailykos - 46 Republicans just voted to privatize Social Security

[Mass]

An important diary that was posted on kos by daveweigel.

Important because it shows that the GOP has not renounced privatizing Social Security. They are advancing in stealthy way, but are still advancing.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/17/115226/185

46 Republicans just voted to privatize Social Security
by daveweigel


Believe it or not, Social Security Reform's corpse was nearly risen from the grave yesterday. Senator Jim DeMint, a longtime pro-privatization guerilla, offered a budget amendment that would have devoted surplus funds from Social Security taxes to private accounts. A while back, DeMint had tried to sell it with some snake oil about "stopping the raid" on Social Security.

The Stop the Raid on Social Security Act would change this practice by directing money from the surplus to fund newly created PRAs. People under the age of 55 will have PRAs, or can choose to opt out. The accounts will initially be invested in marketable Treasury bonds. This allows a safe and prudent transition period for the development of personal accounts to protect the Social Security surplus.

Blah blah. So, every single Democrat voted against this. (Something to chew on for the "all the Democrats are worthless except for Feingold" crowd.) Here are the Republicans who voted "nay."


Conrad Burns
Lincoln Chafee
Pete Domenici
Dick Lugar
Gordon Smith
Olympia Snowe
Jim Talent

Notice anything? Yep, three of them (Burns-Chafee-Talent) are in do-or-die re-election races. The other four are either not running this year or safe from challenge.

...

On Edit: Collins voted nay as well.

[PBass]

1. This vote HAS to be a campaign issue in November (eom)

[demosincebirth]

2. These fuckers just won't give up!

[Epiphany4z]

3. I wondered how long

It would take them. Its a scam to get there hands on more money there is no way they are going to give it up.

[nickinSTL]

4. My first thought was...TALENT?

Then I realized he's about to get his @$$ handed to him by McCaskill in November. Time to pretend he ISN'T out to screw Missourians...despite his voting record to the contrary.

This isn't enough to save you, Talent. Too little, too late.

[MADem]

5. Bad link, goes to "Sorry, I can't seem to find that story"

Your list above includes the only GOPers who voted against this? Unless she was somehow absent, Collins of ME voted for this atrocity? I'm stunned.

[Mass]

7. Corrected - and link to the rollcall

You're right. The list posted on kos is imcomplete. Collins voted NO as well.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00068

[MADem]

9. I couldn't conceive of her doing otherwise--she isn't really like the rest

of them. And ME is fairly geezer-friendly, or at least has been in the past.

[Rainscents]

10. I'm saving this one, so I can shove it up R's ass!

[hang a left]

6. Maybe this is what yesterday's shock and awe was all about.

Recommended.

[Rainscents]

11. Bingo!

[LaPera]

8. If Democrats don't take the House-Social Security privatization will occur

This is the big one, the one the republicans have always wanted...to obliterate Roosevelt's (and the democrats), "New Deal". Bush and both republican controlled houses, want this so urgently to occur...Immediately, in the two years before the 2008 presidential election.

And there will be nothing to stop them after this November elections...unfortunately, the electronic voting machines, the huge republican corporate money, the right-wing media and incumbents who win 96% of the time will ensure a republican victory in the House & Senate...Not to mention "the out for themselves democrat's", who don't know the word nor care about, UNITY!

It will be a very sad day.

[papau]

12. there are 3 GOP "savings" bills AND 4 Social Security bills still active

HR 1162/S 546 Retirement Savings Account

and HR 1163/S 545 Lifetime Savings Account

and HR 1161/S 547 Employer Retirement Savings Account are the savings accounts

Meanwhile Personal Accounts are still in the 4 Social Security Bills:

HR 3304 Growing Real Ownership for Workers moves current payroll surplus out of the Social Security Trust and into personal accounts. It's companion is S 1302 (DeMint) Stop the Raid on Social Security Act.

HR 440 is Jim Kolbe's Bipartisan Retirement Security Act of 2005 that takes the first 3 % of the first 10,000 of wages plus 2% to the wage cap and moves that out of the Social Security Trust and into personal accounts.

HR 750 is the Clay Shaw's Social Security Guarantee Plus Act of 2005 that has a refundable credit of up to 4% of earnings up to $1000 max per year to put into a personal account- but only a portion is the workers - after years of telling you it is your money most of it is returned to Social Security when you begin to draw benefits!

and S 540 is Chuck Hagel'a Saving Social Security Act of 2005 that has under age 44 folks electing to invest the first 4% of their payroll tax of 6 plus percent into a personal account plan. Like the Shaw/Bush game, a portion of the monies go back to Social Security when you get a benefit - you are purchasing an annuity!!! - and the benefit reduction is not discussed. He also makes full Social Security retirement benefits available only at 68, with benefits at 62 being 63% of the age 68 benefits.

[Rainscents]

13. Why didn't any of us hear about this until your post?

I'm shock I didn't hear about before hand.

[papau]

14. No action is expected on any of these bills beyond PR releases.

:-)

this was Rejected, 46-53, with 1 not voting