News Release

Campaign for America’s Future Praises Vice President:

Pledge to Protect Social Security Benefits is a Clear Winner Politically and Makes Good Sense as Policy

Washington, DC – Yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden drew a bright line in the sand, pledging the Obama-Biden administration would make “no changes” in Social Security.

Roger Hickey, the co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future praised Biden’s public commitment to not cutting Social Security benefits, saying his promise to defend the most popular program in U.S. history is not only smart politics, it also represents good policy.

Statement from Roger Hickey:

“Vice President Biden’s strong statement in support of Social Security is a welcome sign from the Obama/Biden ticket that Democrats will continue to fight for the only retirement system that most Americans, old and young, can now count on. A firm stance in defense of Social Security is a winner politically – but it also represents good policy.

“Already Vice President Biden’s pledge has been attacked as ‘pandering’ to an important constituency in an election year, but, as expert after expert has proposed, we can maintain full Social Security benefits well into the future by requiring millionaires and billionaires to pay the same Social Security tax rates on their full incomes as middle class workers do.

“Social Security benefits don’t need to be cut – and could even be improved. Our Social Security system is a critical piece of America’s infrastructure, like our highway system. And with pensions vanishing and investments vulnerable, it’s more important now than ever.

“By choosing Rep. Paul Ryan as a Vice Presidential pick, Gov. Romney puts the Social Security debate into relief. According to the Vice President, the Democrats support a program that has will continue to work well to keep elderly and disabled Americans out of poverty. Both Romney and Ryan are on record as wanting to weaken and/or privatize Social Security. Democrats will win if they run on protecting Social Security, and more importantly, middle class citizens – old and young – will have Social Security to depend on if Democrats win and stick to their promise.”

Read Campaign for America’s Future’s Richard Eskow’s article: On Social Security: Say it IS so Joe!