Prometheus 6

Quote of note:

"This plan would cost taxpayers $2 trillion," said the automated calls, according to a transcript provided by the office of Rep. Clay E. Shaw Jr. (R-Fla.). "It would also decrease future benefits to retirees by 47% . Tell Congressman Shaw that we want real Social Security reform, not a risky Wall Street gamble. Call him."

Bush put the discussion out there so everyone can raise all the objections they can think of. Then the language of the plan will be constructed to counter the objections. But I see no reason to play by Bush's rules...because he really has no rules.

Anyway.

Ominous Ring to Calls About Social Security
Automated messages to constituents in dozens of districts accuse several Republicans in Congress of trying to jeopardize the retirement program.
By Richard Simon and Peter Wallsten
Times Staff Writers

January 28, 2005

WASHINGTON   In a sign of the political dangers surrounding President Bush's plans for Social Security, a number of congressional Republicans said Thursday that their constituents had received anonymous, automated phone calls accusing the lawmakers of trying to damage the government retirement program by "privatizing" it.

House Republicans said the calls, which they labeled a "tele-scare campaign," had been made in more than a dozen congressional districts from Connecticut to Florida.

An aide to Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.), whose West Florida district includes more Social Security recipients than any other House district, said more than 200 constituents had called her office to report receiving the calls. A spokesman for Rep. C. W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.) said his office received about 400 calls Wednesday.

Many lawmakers are already jittery about Bush's call for allowing workers to divert a portion of their payroll taxes into worker-owned investment accounts, which might be paired with cuts in promised Social Security benefits. The reported phone calls underscored the political risks of the idea. Although no one could identify the source of the calls, lawmakers interpreted them as an effort to scare voters into pressuring Congress to back away from Bush's still-emerging proposal.

"This plan would cost taxpayers $2 trillion," said the automated calls, according to a transcript provided by the office of Rep. Clay E. Shaw Jr. (R-Fla.). "It would also decrease future benefits to retirees by 47% . Tell Congressman Shaw that we want real Social Security reform, not a risky Wall Street gamble. Call him."

The caller then provided a toll-free number to reach the U.S. Capitol switchboard.