Congress has been afraid to do anything to fix Social Security because they are not affected by it anyway. If they knew it would have a profound impact on their old age they would work to get it right. This would be a very solid plank for a Presidential platform during the upcoming election with all the "Baby Boomers" about to vote in the election.
Ah, Congress has paid into SS since 1987.
SS is not a retirement plan.
Congress has the same retirement plan as all other government workers do.
February 28th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
When pigs fly? Same times as a bunch of lawyers (almost all of congress) passes tort reform to dramatically lower healthcare cost for all Americans (and at the same time cost lawyers huge settlements)…. or the same time congress repels the part of the prescription drug law that states the government can not try to lower drug prices (has nothing to do with big pharm having more lobbyist then their are congressmen).
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March 1st, 2010 at 12:22 am
Never. They don’t want to do what is right, only what benefits them. This is true for either the Democrats and the Republicans.
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March 1st, 2010 at 12:58 am
Ha ha ha ha ha!!!
They never will. And neither will they put federal employees on social security. Bush tried to open a dialog about it, but nobody wanted to talk because it’s such a political hot potato.
When the retirements in Europe start to fail due to not enough young people to support the retirees perhaps Americans will start to pay attention.
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March 1st, 2010 at 1:05 am
Right, you expect Congress to kill the Golden Goose! I want their health care program too but wishing won’t make it so. They have been stealing from Social Security for over 30 years and they do not have enough moral fortitude to raise the cap, which is all they would need to fix SS. Just pray that the conservatives continue to self-destruct and maybe we will get something out of this government.
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March 1st, 2010 at 1:43 am
Ah, Congress has paid into SS since 1987.
SS is not a retirement plan.
Congress has the same retirement plan as all other government workers do.
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March 1st, 2010 at 2:16 am
Better check your sources. Congress is on SS. Yes, they do have other nice options.
Your question would be, when will Congress vote to put themselves on SS ONLY.
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March 1st, 2010 at 3:01 am
They will never be worried about it until it affects them. As long as we’re paying the huge salaries and bonuses, they will continue to look out for themselves, not the people.
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March 1st, 2010 at 3:51 am
I agree that Congress should not have a separate pension and if they had a vested interest in social security they might make efforts to fix it. However, you can forget Presidents trying to use this issue. Fixing Social Security was part of Bush’s platform and he was crucified by the Democrats and media for it. Democrats refuse to address social security and constantly vilify any attempt to fix the problems in the system. It is sad because all reasonable estimates put the fund in real trouble and one party would rather scare elderly voters by demonizing anyone who dares mentions the truth than properly address a real issue which should be of concern to all. My best advice to anyone who is concerned about this issue is plan for a retirement without Social Security because it may not be there after 2018, or if it is benefits may be greatly reduced due to economic realities.
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March 1st, 2010 at 4:01 am
Actually President Bush tried to fix social security, everybody started jumping up and down about partial privatization.. What do you think our politicians are doing… If SS was partially privatized, the government couldn’t touch it even when we die ,our heirs receive it unlike now where the politicians put in an IOU (of course they won’t pay it back) take what they want and if we die, somebody we don’t even know benefits off every dime we put in… I think Bush has a good idea..
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March 1st, 2010 at 4:39 am
Congress aren’t fools they don’t want that little dollar two nintyeight check each month with cost of living raises $25.00 and the raises Medicare B $20 where you can’t make a half way decent living off of Social Security. Bush has so many IOU’s in that lock box that Bill Clinton wouldn’t touch, that their nothing but IOU’s left in the lock box from your President Bush. Social Security checks are a laugh, there at the highest $1,000.00 could you live on a thousand dollars minus $90.00 Medicare B. These are just some off the wall figures I’ve told by some elderly people and Disabled young people. President Roosevelt would turn over in his grave if he knew what Bush has done to Social Security. Bush wanted it put in stock privatize it where when the stock went busted all the people that don’t own homes are going to be street people. The ones that do own the home taxes are so high they would have to sell out. Congress is smarter than that , they know what a sad, sad situation Social Security is in, Bush wanted to tax what little bit the Socail Security checks are and congress wouldn’t vote it in, he is sorriest poorest excuse of a man I have ever heard of..
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March 1st, 2010 at 5:19 am
Is this a trick question? The very obvious answer is "never". Not, at least, until the American people rise up and start throwing the current lot out of Congress and the White House and elect people who have the country’s welfare at heart, not their own damn re-election prospects.
Make their retirements based on time served, like the military and the rest of the governmental bureacracies; at 20 years you can retire at 50% of your base pay, more for more time served up to 75% at 30 years; mandatory retirement from government service at 30 years, retirement pay capped at that 75%.
Never have I seen in industry, for the ordinary working stiff, such a thoroughly generous retirement plan. Who do these guys think they are, Disney’s retiring CEO?
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