August 19, 2022
Alliance Celebrates Social Security’s Anniversary in the Face of Threats to the Program
Alliance members commemorated the 87th anniversary of Social Security on August 14 and throughout the month as a growing number of Republican candidates and elected officials call for dramatic changes to the earned benefits program. Threats include requiring it to be re-approved by Congress every year, sunsetting it in five years, privatizing the system, and reducing benefits.
“Social Security has been a bedrock of our retirement security since FDR signed it into law on August 14, 1935, and this anniversary is an opportunity to remind Americans we cannot take its future for granted,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “As we celebrate the anniversary, we also redouble our efforts with events to make sure voters understand that the benefits they have earned will be on the ballot in November.”
The events call for expanding Social Security and protecting it from attempts to cut, eliminate or privatize it. A virtual event in Wisconsin on Monday featured Rep. Mark Pocan. Wisconsin is a key state in the battle to protect Social Security, because Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) favors an extreme plan that includes Social Security and Medicare being re-approved on an annual basis by Congress.
Arizona members thanked Rep. Raúl Grijalva on Thursday for his work to expand and protect Social Security. An August 4 event in Arizona focused on the threat posed by Blake Masters, who won the Republican primary for Senate in the state and publicly has called for the privatization of the program.
A virtual event in Florida on Thursday featured Rep. Charlie Crist. His fellow Floridian, Sen. Rick Scott — the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee — has crafted an election-year campaign plan that would sunset Medicare and Social Security in five years.
An event in West Hartford, Connecticut featured Rep. John Larson, who has introduced legislation endorsed by the Alliance to expand Social Security. H.R. 5723, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act, increases benefits for all beneficiaries and requires that wealthy Americans pay their fair share of Social Security taxes.
