71st Anniversary of Social Security

Today marks the 71st anniversary of the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed our Social Security system into law. Despite generations of success, President Bush and Republicans in Congress are renewing their push to privatize the program.

Top Bush Administration officials and Republicans have said several times that they plan to return to Social Security after the November elections

"The Bush administration has begun sounding out lawmakers and other key figures about mounting a new bipartisan effort to rein in the costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security after the midterm elections, according to officials in the administration and on Capitol Hill. No specific plan has been advanced, and administration officials are proceeding gingerly given the political debacle that beset the White House last year when President Bush promoted a plan to create private accounts in the Social Security program. But they have been sending strong signals in recent weeks that they want to try something again after the elections in November."

- The Washington Post, August 11, 2006

I can assure you I remain committed to stopping Social Security privatization and fighting for a New Direction with retirement security and dignity for all Americans.