Business Lobby Remains Bullish on Social Security Measure"Business lobbyists remain bullish that Congress will pass a Social Security overhaul this year...'When we talk to members individually, there's a broad recognition they have to fix the problem,' John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, said in an interview. 'I'm optimistic.' 'Whether the President brings it forward or whether it's one of the committees, I think it's going to be necessary to have something specific to able to get the constituencies mobilized,' he said." College Student Takes on Social Security"Kala French of Kalispell is only 20, but she's taking on Social Security. French has teamed up with Generations Together, a program that advocates reforming Social Security by adding voluntary personal retirement accounts while not disrupting the benefits of those currently drawing or about to draw Social Security benefits." 'I think a lot of times, for my generation,' she says, 'that we look so much at the here and now that we don't think about the long term.'" Concerned Americans Urge Real Reform in Letters to the EditorPersonal Retirement Accounts Are the Solution Along this same line, I believe that personal retirement accounts are another good investment for my future and the future of our Social Security system." Donovan Brown Get Serious on Social Security "It's time for Congress to have a serious debate and to weigh competing plans and ideas. If opponents don't like personal retirement accounts, let them present a better plan." Bob Johnson From The FieldColorado
Lousiana
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Op-Ed by Business Community Leaders Continues to Garner Coverage Across the Country"Social Security reform is an important issue for business because of its potential impact on economic growth. Business may not agree on every component of a solution, but virtually all our members, of every size and industry, agree that the current system is unsustainable and headed for disaster. "If Congress continues to deny there is a problem and delays a solution, our nation eventually will face a Social Security crisis that rocks the foundation of our retirement security system, wreaks havoc with consumer confidence and undermines job creation. "That's why we—and the thousands of employers we represent—believe so strongly that Social Security must be reformed now. There's simply too much at stake for businesses, for retirees and for today's workers, who deserve assurances of a secure retirement."  
Students for Saving Social Security Join Members of Congress to Encourage Bipartisan Social Security ReformAt a Capitol Hill forum last week, Students for Saving Social Security (SSSS) spoke in front of a packed room of members of Congress and twenty-somethings about the need for Democrats and Republicans to cooperate and fix Social Security. The Forum, titled "Coffee and Conversation" ended with SSSS hand-delivering For Our Grandchildren-sponsored coffee mugs to all Senate members, requesting that they "wake up and smell the coffee" on the need for Social Security reform.
Did You Know?About one in six Americans (47 million) receives a Social Security benefit today. More than one in three are not retirees. Social Security provides benefits to young workers and their families if they become disabled, and it provides benefits to the survivors of deceased workers, including their children. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration 
They Said It"[A]s with a lot of things that seem easy, this tax-the-affluent-minority idea has real drawbacks. Any plan that would fix Social Security solely by taxing a relatively small number of wage earners would undermine its support. Social Security enjoys broad public backing because it is seen as a retirement savings and disability program, not a welfare program... if the nearly 10 million people who make more than $90,000 a year are asked to pay in a great deal more than they will get out, that principle would be shattered. Editorial |
"As a law student at the University of Florida, I am well-acquainted with the need to invest in my future and plan for my financial security. I accept the student loans and inevitable costs for my education because I know the price will offset the benefits when my education and training is completed.
"I agree with the statement made by U.S. Rep. Tom Latham in your April 26 article that the Social Security debate has become 'needlessly politicized.' President Bush has made the case for Social Security reform, as did President Clinton before him, and is presenting ideas to improve the long-term solvency of the program while giving younger workers the option to build a bigger nest egg through personal retirement accounts."
