Social Security News 6-01-12

 SSW/SSSC mention **

LA Times (CA)

Did Alan Simpson say deal or no deal on a Social Security debate?

06-01-12

Michael Hiltzik

Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, who normally is unafraid to back up his words with more words, seemed to agree this week to debate critics of his position on Social Security -- or did he?

The debate challenge came via a YouTube video from a group of young Social Security advocates, many of them connected with the Washington nonprofit Social Security Works.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-simpson-20120601,0,2682424.story

 

SSW/SSSC mention **

 

Politico (NAT)

Open Mike, June 1-3 - The Arena

June 1-3

Cliff Schecter

Then there is the young group of young Social Security experts that have chosen to stand up to Pete Peterson's $438 million earmarked for gutting the program, as well as that plain-speaking snake-oil salesman himself, the perpetually crabby Alan Simpson.

They have challenged him to a debate. He has accepted. Better than even money says he finds a way to live up to this promise in much the way Mitt Romney lived up to his oath to be "to the left of Ted Kennedy on gay rights."

http://www.politico.com/arena/

 

SSW/SSSC mention **

 

ENews Park Forest (Blog)

Alan Simpson Fallout Continues

06-01-12

Staff

Simpson has accepted a debate challenge from young people associated with the group Social Security Works. To see their video, which features Alliance Senior Legislative Representative Sarah Byrne, go tohttp://huff.to/KfYiFU

Also, watch for a petition to Members of Congress denouncing both Simpson’s comments and his recommended policies, coming soon!

http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/human-interest/33892-alliance-for-retired-americans-weekly-alert-june-1-2012.html

 

Also appeared in:

 

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2012/06/new-democrat-centrist-erskine-bowles.html

 

http://www.digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenging-real-greedy-geezer.html

 

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/05/31/video-young-experts-challenge-sen-alan-simpson-to-social-security-debate-we-do-not-need-to-insult-old-people/

 

http://www.americablog.com/2012/05/youth-challenge-alan-simpson-to-debate.html

 

The Detroit News (MI)

U.S. Rep John Conyers: America must uphold commitment to seniors

06-01-12

John Conyers

It is important we look back at why we honor the elderly among us for their hard work and wisdom passed down through generations. Since 1963 when President John F. Kennedy led us to officially pay tribute to older citizens, and again in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter changed the name of May to Older Americans Month, we have continued to honor those who are 65 years and older for their many contributions to this great country.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120601/OPINION01/206010326

 

NBC Politics (NAT)

Older, unemployed and pessimistic -- will they vote?

05-31-12

Tom Curry

When the Labor Department releases the monthly jobs report on Friday morning, employment numbers among Americans over the age of 50 will be worth a look– for both the long and short term implications.

http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/31/11993780-older-unemployed-and-pessimistic-will-they-vote?lite

 

The Boston Globe (MA)

Choosing politics over kids - Editorials

06-01-12

Republicans’ desire to plunder the health care funds reflects a general hostility to the Obama health care overhaul. Meanwhile, the Senate Democrats’ desire to close Medicare and Social Security tax loopholes makes sense, but the futures of the two major entitlements are cloudy enough that any proceeds should be put aside to strengthen and reform those plans.

http://bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/05/31/congress-should-act-promptly-restore-funding-for-stafford-student-loans/cYQATfVzIBBOw9SyqOLKsO/story.html

 

Reuters (NAT)

Think before you quit your job to care for Mom

05-30-12

Cynthia Ramnarace

"Sadly, I hadn't thought out the financial part," says Wurtzel, who has now been unemployed for six months. "I'm living on my savings. I'm in OK shape now, but I can't continue like this, or I won't have anything for retirement."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/30/us-caregivers-quittingjobs-idUSBRE84T15520120530

 

CBS 6 (VA)

Gov. Kaine Discusses Social Security with Seniors

05-31-12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTB3ikmNRHo&feature=youtu.be

 

New Richmond News (WI)

LETTER: Entitlement programs they’re not

06-01-12

George Richard

What I don't like is the problem this country is having with semantics. You see Social Security and Medicare are not "entitlements.” They are actually savings accounts. The Republicans like to demonize these programs because businesses are forced to match the amount each employee puts in. Obviously that’s not good for the old bottom line.

http://www.newrichmond-news.com/event/article/id/36296/group/Opinion/

 

The Patriot Ledger (MA)

Social security is not an entitlement program

06-01-12

Brenda Shaw

I am rather tired of hearing the media refer to Social Security as an “entitlement program” and/or a “free program”. If you have worked your entire adult life this should annoy you also.

http://www.patriotledger.com/lifestyle/50_plus/x1234213059/Social-security-is-not-an-entitlement-program

 

Patch (RI)

Tiverton Democrats Endorse Congressman David Cicilline

06-01-12

On Wednesday night the Tiverton Democratic Town Committee enthusiastically voted to endorse the reelection of Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI). Recognizing how important it is for Rhode Island's middle class to have a strong voice in Washington, the Tiverton Democrats endorsed him by a unanimous vote.

The committee took a vote this week to endorse Cicilline for another term in Washington, D.C.

http://tiverton.patch.com/articles/tiverton-democrats-endorse-congressman-david-cicilline

Politics

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Obama Ordered Wave of Cyberattacks Against Iran

06-01-12

David E. Sanger

Even after the Stuxnet computer worm became public, President Obama accelerated cyberattacks against Iran that had begun in the Bush administration, temporarily disabling 1,000 centrifuges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/world/middleeast/obama-ordered-wave-of-cyberattacks-against-iran.html?_r=1

The Hill (DC)

Bleak labor report finds economy added just 69,000 jobs in May

06-01-12

Vicki Needham and Ian Swanson

The economy added only 69,000 jobs in May, a result much worse than expected that will heighten fears the economy is sliding back.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/230423-bleak-labor-report-finds-economy-added-69000-jobs-in-may

 

Huffington Post (NAT)

Nancy Pelosi Defends Reframing Middle Class As People Making Up To $1 Million

06-01-12

Jennifer Bendery

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday defended her push to permanently extend "middle class" tax cuts to people making up to $1 million, saying that drawing the line at $250,000 hasn't worked. Pelosi has come under fire since she pressed House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) last week to hold a vote to extend "middle class" Bush tax cuts.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/31/nancy-pelosi-middle-class_n_1559943.html

 

The Washington Post (NAT)

Bill Clinton sticks another fork in Obama’s Bain strategy, says Romney had ‘sterling’ business career

06-01-12

Aaron Blake

The biggest name in Democratic politics (outside of Obama) stuck another fork in the Bain strategy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/bill-clinton-sticks-another-fork-in-obamas-bain-strategy/2012/06/01/gJQAt87r6U_blog.html

 

CNN (NAT)

Obama campaign reacts to Clinton on CNN

06-01-12

Dan Lothian

The Obama re-election campaign is glossing over the off message positive comments former President Clinton made about presumptive Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, during an interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight Thursday.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/obama-campaign-reacts-to-clinton-on-cnn/

 

Economic Policy Institute

Underlying labor market trend still murky after May jobs report

06-01-12

Heidi Shierholz

The May 2012 employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed 69,000 jobs were added last month. After a strange winter and early spring—where unseasonably warm winter weather led to unusually strong job growth in January and February that was “paid back” with weaker job growth in March and April—even the May report may not yet provide a clear picture of the underlying trend.

http://www.epi.org/publication/may-2012-jobs-picture/

 

The Hill (DC)

House Democratic leaders blame poor jobs numbers on GOP obstructionism

06-01-12

Mike Lillis

House Democratic leaders called upon the Republicans to pass the Senate transportation bill to spur jobs growth. Blaming GOP obstructionism for the lingering jobs crisis, Democratic leaders on Friday called on House Republicans to bring a long-term highway bill to the floor.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/230477-dem-leaders-blame-poor-jobs-numbers-on-gop-obstructionism

 

ABC News (NAT)

George Zimmerman's Bond Revoked

06-01-12

Seni Tienabeso

The prosecution in the George Zimmerman murder trial say they want his bond revoked because he lied about having no money and an expired passport.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecution-requests-george-zimmermans-bond-revoked/story?id=16476183

 

Talking Points Memo (NAT)

BREAKING: Justice Department Demands Florida Stop Purging Voter Rolls

05-31-12

Ryan J. Reilly

The Justice Department sent a letter to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Thursday evening demanding the state cease purging its voting rolls because the process it is using has not been cleared under the Voting Rights Act.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/justice_department_demands_florida_stop_purging_voter_rolls.php?ref=fpblg

 

Politico (DC)

Opinion: Mitt Romney a closet Keynesian?

06-01-12

Nicholas Wapshott

Little wonder Mitt Romney gives so few interviews. Whenever he answers a question without notice, he tends to say what he thinks rather than what his minders have taught him. His recent encounter with Mark Halperin of Time magazine is a case in point. You have a plan to cut spending dramatically over a number of years, Halperin said. Why not in the...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/76940.html

 

International Clips

 

The Washington Post (NAT)

ECB chief calls euro ‘unsustainable,’ slams Spanish bank response

05-31-12

Howard Schneider

The European Central Bank chief calls the currency union “unsustainable” and says more central control of national finances is needed if it is to survive.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/ecb-chief-calls-euro-unsustainable-slams-spanish-bank-response/2012/05/31/gJQAB7qY5U_story.html

 

Project Syndicate (Blog)

"Democracy versus the Eurozone"

06-01-12

Daniel Gros

The EU is a voluntary quasi-federation of sovereign and democratic states in which elections matter and each country seeks to determine its own destiny, regardless of the wishes of its partners. But it should now be apparent to everyone that the eurozone was designed with a very different institutional arrangement in mind.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/democracy-versus-the-eurozone

 

NPR (NAT)

Ignoring Critics, Iraq's Leader Consolidates Power

06-01-12

Peter Kenyon

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has angered many political groups in Iraq that say he's concentrating too much power in his hands. There's talk of a no-confidence motion, but at least for now, there's no clear rival to replace him.

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/01/154069009/ignoring-critics-iraqs-leader-consolidates-power

 

Telegraph (UK)

Syria: Kofi Annan warns that peace plan will not be available 'forever' 

06-01-12

Ruth Sherlock,

Yet Mr Annan candidly admitted that the UN Security Council might choose to call off his efforts, adding that he was "more frustrated" than anyone by the failure to implement his plan.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9306235/Syria-Kofi-Annan-warns-that-peace-plan-will-not-be-available-forever.html