Social Security News 06-12-12

 SW/SSSC mention**

Huffington Post (NAT)

Alan Simpson: Pulling Apart Social Security, And Proud of It

06-11-12

Nancy Altman & Eric Kingson

Senator Simpson, no amount of ageism can hide the harm your plan would cause for Americans -- young and old, alike.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-altman/alan-simpson-social-security_b_1587739.html

 

SSW/SSSC mention**

 

Huffington Post (NAT)

Three Cheers for Alan Simpson

06-12-12

Robert J. Elisberg

Mr. Simpson, who loves calling out "bullshit" as Speaker of the Truth, recently served as co-chair of President Obama's deficit commission. He made his attack on Republicans in a letter to the Huffington Post that also slammed the co-directors of Social Security Works for what they suggested was an attempt to dismantle Social Security -- a charge Mr. Simpson called "bullshit,"™ and wrote that "your accusations of 'bigotry' on my part are nothing more than pure McCarthyism.".

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/alan-simpson-social-security-works_b_1589586.html?utm_hp_ref=media

 

Crooks and Liars (Blog)

How To Tell The AARP Is Part of Rigging The Social Security and Medicare 'Reform' Game

06-10-12

Susie Madrak

The AARP started this campaign a few months ago called 'You've Earned A Say.' Sounds good, right? It's about 'protecting' Social Security and Medicare. The thing is, when powerful interests say 'protecting,' they're really saying, 'This is going …

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/how-tell-aarp-part-rigging-social-sec

 

Associated Press (NAT)

Special election in Ariz. to replace Giffords

06-12-12

Kevin Freking

The Tucson region is home to a growing population of retirees who rely on Medicare and Social Security. Kelly said in 2010 that privatizing the programs was a "must." He said he would protect Social Security for current seniors but the program needed to be "phased out." Giffords assailed his comments with great effect. Democratic groups have employed a similar game plan this election.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5igZ7Uop9EWiUfQcdL5dS3MiRtIKQ?docId=4753de51cf594851b8cabc9fc501c5f6

 

The Washington Post (DC)

What the Gabby Giffords special election means — and what it doesn’t

06-12-12

Aaron Blake

If Democrats do win Tuesday, it's going to be in large part because they defined Kelly early and successfully as being anti-Medicare and anti-Social Security in the 11th-oldest district in the country -- in large part by running footage and quotes of Kelly himself talking about getting rid of the entitlements."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/what-the-gabby-giffords-special-election-means--and-what-it-doesnt/2012/06/11/gJQAiSIDWV_blog.html

 

The Post-Standard (NY)

'Medi-Scare': Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle shades truths on health care law

06-08-12

Paul Riede and Mark Weiner

“It’s not fair to seniors,” she told the crowd of about 80 at Cicero Town Hall. “Politics are politics, but when you hand out stuff like this and you scare seniors, that’s just wrong.”

But in numerous town hall meetings across the 25th Congressional District over the past year, in a commentary in The Post-Standard and in a taxpayer-funded letter she sent to constituents in March, Buerkle has provided a highly selective picture of the Medicare debate.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/politics_of_medi-scare_rep_ann.html

 

Huffington Post (NAT)

Of Fiscal Policy Cliffs & Obvious Answer: Simpson-Bowles

06-07-12

Don Rich

Since there is unlikely to be any budgetary plan that could be advanced in an election year that wouldn't be swamped by partisan envy as to who gets credit to save the day, given the statements of Speaker Boehner, it should be possible for the President and the Speaker to negotiate a deal on the basis of the original commission's report..

http://open.salon.com/blog/don_rich/2012/06/07/of_fiscal_policy_cliffs_obvious_answer_simpson-bowles

 

Evansville Courier & Press (KY)

Simpson right to bash back on reform

06-11-12

Jay Ambrose

Try to save the nation from the approaching crisis of unsustainable spending on Social Security and Medicare, and the demagogues will come at you with the lie of how you would force poor, old Joe to eat dog food.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/jun/11/simpson-right-to-bash-back-on-reform/

 

St. Louis Beacon (MO)

Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls attack the government, not each other, in latest debate

06-11-12

Jo Mannies

All three also came out in favor of allowing changes in the Social Security so that younger workers could shift their Social Security payments into private accounts.  All three emphasized, however, that they would not change the system for older people currently collecting Social Security benefits

https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/25513/mogop_debate_061112

 

The Times of Northwest Indiana (IN)

GOP seems out of touch with average people's needs

06-12-12

Gordon Wilder

People want and need Social Security, Medicare, pure air, water, tax parity, protection from corporate excesses.

Which party plans to destroy Social Security, Medicare and environmental protections? Which party promotes corporate, not average people‘s, needs?

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/gop-seems-out-of-touch-with-average-people-s-needs/article_3ee8ad91-9d6f-528d-af1a-91bf77e0f018.html

 

Maui Now (HI)

Social Security, Medicare: Focus of June 12 Maui Debate

06-11-12

Wendy Osher

Maui voters will have an opportunity to view a live forum and debate between US Senate candidates Ed Case and Mazie Hirono. The event is hosted by AARP Hawaii, with the forum portion of the event focusing on Social Security and Medicare, as well as other issues of concern to residents age 50 and over.

http://mauinow.com/2012/06/11/social-security-medicare-focus-of-june-12-maui-debate/

Politics

 

Associated Press (NAT)

US - Russia Sending Syria Attack Helicopters

06-12-12

Staff

The Obama administration said Tuesday that Russia is sending attack helicopters to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime and warned that the Arab country's 15-month conflict could become even deadlier.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/06/12/us/politics/ap-us-us-syria.html?_r=1

 

Yahoo News (NAT)

Supreme Irony: Would a 'single payer' health care plan be less vulnerable to the court than the Affordable Health Care Act?

06-12-12

Jeff Greenfield

If the Supreme Court does decide to strike down any or all of the Affordable Health Care Act, the implications will range from the political to the medical to the economic.

http://news.yahoo.com/supreme-irony--would-a--single-payer--health-care-plan-be-less-vulnerable-to-the-court-than-the-affordable-health-care-act-.html

 

NPR (NAT)

The Fed's Tough Job Gets Harder In Election Year

06-12-12

Marilyn Geewax

With signs that the economy is slowing, the Federal Reserve may take steps to help boost growth. But with the election season gearing up, the Fed's ability to act boldly may be restrained. That's because the monetary policymakers want to preserve the Fed's credibility as a nonpartisan entity.

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/12/154761169/the-feds-tough-job-gets-harder-in-election-year

 

The Hill (DC)

Issa threatens AG Holder with contempt; Justice Dept. calls move 'political'

06-12-12

Jordy Yager

The Department of Justice blasted Rep. Darrell Issa on Monday for playing political games at the expense of all Americans.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/232061-doj-to-issa-contempt-threat-is-political-game

 

The Hill (DC)

Obama says his 'responsibilities' kept him from Wisconsin during recall fight Video

06-11-12

Amie Parnes

I have a lot of responsibilities,” Obama told CBS affiliate WBAY of Green Bay during an interview. President Obama says he would have “loved to have seen a different result” following last week’s recall election in Wisconsin but other matters kept him from hitting the Badger State.

http://thehill.com/video/campaign/232125-obama-says-his-responsibilities-kept-him-from-wisconsin

 

Politico (DC)

Opinion: The vicious cycle of economic inequality

06-11-12

Joseph E. Stiglitz

America’s growing inequality is likely to play an important role in this election — and rightly so. Americans see that something is happening to our society: We have become increasingly divided. We may all be in the same boat — but some are traveling steerage and others first class. Inequality is now far higher than just 30 years...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77280.html

 

Press-Register Editorial Board (AL)

On Social Security, and a four-term Obama presidency (letters)

06-10-12

Letter to Editor

I swore I wouldn't do this anymore, but I feel that I must reply to the "Sound Off" comment about Social Security ("Bunch of socialists," June 4) and the June 4 letter to the editor titled "Socialism, communism are not the same."

http://blog.al.com/press-register-commentary/2012/06/on_social_security_and_a_four-.html

 

AMERICAblog (Blog)

Median family net worth drops almost 40%, to level of early 1990s

06-12-12

Gaius Publius

One of America's most influential progressive political blogs, providing news analysis of US politics, by John Aravosis in Washington DC

http://www.americablog.com/2012/06/median-family-net-worth-drops-almost-40.html

 

National Journal (NAT)

Is Obama’s ‘Blue Wall’ Crumbling?

06-12-12

Staff

Mitt Romney is kicking off his jobs tour today, which will hit six battleground states throughout the week: New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa and Michigan. 

http://nationaljournal.com/is-obama-s-blue-wall-crumbling--20120612

 

The Economist (UK)

The global economy: Start the engines, Angela

06-09-12

In short, even if her strategy has paid some dividends, its cost has been ruinous and it has run its course. She needs to lay out a clear plan for the single currency, at the latest by the European summit on June 28th, earlier if Greece’s election spreads panic. It must be specific enough to dispel all doubt about Germany’s commitment to saving the euro. And it must include immediate downpayments on deeper integration, such as a pledge to use joint funds to recapitalise Spanish banks.

http://www.economist.com/node/21556577?scode=3d26b0b17065c2cf29c06c010184c684