The non-partisan group No Labels blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today for refusing to include Social Security reform in Capitol Hill’s budget negotiations.
According to Politico, Reid opposes any efforts to revise Social Security, despite the nation’s record deficits. Reid said no, not any time soon – and he has an interesting definition of soon.
In an interview on MSNBC’s “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” Reid said: “Two decades from now, I’m willing to take a look at (Social Security reform), but I’m not willing to take a look at it right now.” Asked later if he would support a proposal from President Obama on Social Security, Reid replied, “At this stage in the development of the country, I will not support tinkering with Social Security. It’s not an emergency.”
That brought this response from Lisa Borders of No Labels: “Sen. Reid’s position is out of step with the majority of the country when it comes to our financial woes. Most Americans want bipartisan action that goes to the heart of the fiscal crisis. Whether it’s Social Security on the left or raising taxes on the right, we can only address this challenge in a sensible way by not taking anything off the table.”
That brought this response from Lisa Borders of No Labels: “Sen. Reid’s position is out of step with the majority of the country when it comes to our financial woes. Most Americans want bipartisan action that goes to the heart of the fiscal crisis. Whether it’s Social Security on the left or raising taxes on the right, we can only address this challenge in a sensible way by not taking anything off the table.”
No Labels points out that a new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that more than eight in 10 Americans now see the country’s Social Security system as headed for a crisis, and most think a major overhaul is in order.
“If we’re going to get serious about addressing the nation’s huge deficits and mounting debt burdens, we need everyone at the table with everything on the table — and real leadership from our elected officials from both major political parties,” said David Walker, a No Labels co-founder and former U.S. comptroller general.
