MARK KENNEDY KEEPS TRYING TO HIDE HIS RECORD ON SOCIAL SECURITY

08/27/2005

This week on the campaign trail, Mark Kennedy claimed to oppose cutting Social Security benefits. But when he’s in Washington, Kennedy has no problem voting to cut benefits for all Minnesotans and especially rural Minnesotans like those he addressed on Wednesday. Kennedy can make all the happy statements he wants, but the real truth lies in his record.

Kennedy Claimed to Oppose Benefit Cuts.  On Wednesday, Mark Kennedy spoke to a group of Iron Range voters about Social Security, saying, “The benefits should not be cut for either seniors or the disabled.” [Hibbing Daily Tribune, 8/25/05]

BUT KENNEDY HAS VOTED TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Kennedy Voted to Allow Social Security Dollars to Be Diverted to Create Private Accounts. In 2005, Kennedy voted against a Democratic proposal to add a provision to the budget resolution stipulating that money from the Social Security Trust Fund could not be diverted to create private investment accounts. [H Con Res 95, Vote #78, 3/6/05]

Kennedy Voted For Commission Proposals That Would Result in Benefit Cuts. In 2001, Kennedy voted in favor of privatizing Social Security by opposing an amendment prohibiting implementation of the final report of President Bush’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security. The commission offered a bleak appraisal the system, warning that deep benefit cuts, tax increases or “massive” federal debt are inevitable unless Congress allows the personal retirement accounts the White House favors. The Minnesota Senior Coalition wrote of the Commission’s findings, “From our view, all of the proposals will result in cuts in future benefits, not only for retiree’s but also for the disabled and survivors.” [HR 2590, Vote #273, 7/25/01; Washington Post, 7/20/01; Minnesota Senior Coalition, Metropolitan Region, “A Call for Social Security Reform”]

Kennedy Defended Right to Let Young People Invest in Private Accounts. In 2004, the St. Cloud Times reported that Kennedy “defended offering younger workers the option of investing their retirement money outside government-managed accounts.” [St. Cloud Times, 10/4/04]

PRIVATIZATION WOULD CUT BENEFITS FOR MINNESOTANS

Privatization Would Result In A Lifetime Benefit Cut of $227,174 for a Typical Minnesota Worker.  Under Bush’s privatization plan, the typical Minnesotan worker would experience a lifetime benefit reduction of $227,174, even after gains to a private account are taken into consideration.  [Institute for America’s Future, June 2005]

Privatization Would Devastate Rural Minnesota. In 2005, Niel Ritchie, Executive Director of the League of Rural Voters, said, “The President’s plan to privatize Social Security requires massive benefit cuts that would overwhelm rural Minnesota. Farmers and small town people will shoulder the brunt of the benefit cuts that will surely come and Minnesota communities will not be spared.” [Americans United to Protect Social Security, 7/5/05]

Phil Singer
Communications Director, DSCC
202-485-3123 (office)
202-528-1462 (cell)