Johnson to Hold Six Social Security Town Hall Meetings

[sarahlee]

Johnson to Hold Six Social Security Town Hall Meetings

Washington, DC–U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) will be home for a six meeting tour across South Dakota to discuss Social Security, how best to protect the guaranteed benefit, and how to make sure Social Security continues to be the cornerstone of retirement planning for future generations.

“I want to hear from people across this state on what they value most in Social Security and provide them with information on the risks associated with privatization,” said Johnson. “I am committed to improving the long-term outlook of the Social Security program. My fear is that if we start to divert payroll taxes away from the Trust Fund for private accounts, we do nothing to improve solvency, and start to chip away at that guarantee that every South Dakotan should be able to count on.”

Johnson will hold six town hall meetings across South Dakota between March 29th—April 1st. Johnson will hold meetings in Aberdeen, Mitchell, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Yankton.

“Nearly one out of every five South Dakotans receives Social Security benefits. This is more than just a statistic. These people are our mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, our family and friends. Every one of us knows someone who relies on this program as the cornerstone of their retirement,” Johnson said.

Johnson will be joined by Sarah Jennings, Executive Director of the South Dakota AARP, for five of the six meetings. Max Richtman, Executive Vice President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, is expected to join Johnson for all six meetings.

Johnson is encouraging South Dakotans to join him for this important discussion by attending one of the following:

DATE LOCATION

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Dakota Wesleyan University -- Sherman Center & Wagner Chapel

7:00 to 8:30 pm CST 1200 W. University Ave, MITCHELL

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Avera Sacred Heart Majestic Bluffs

11:00 am to 12:30 pm CST 2111 West 11th St, YANKTON

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Ramkota Hotel (Exhibit Hall)

3:30 to 5:00 pm CST 3200 W. Maple St, SIOUX FALLS

Thursday, March 31, 2005 Watertown Senior Citizens Center

10:00 to 11:30 am CST 301 East Kemp Ave, WATERTOWN

Thursday, March 31, 2005 Strode Activity Center -- Presentation College

3:30 to 5:00 pm CST 1500 N. Main St, ABERDEEN

Friday, April 1, 2005 American Legion Post Home

1:00 to 2:30 pm MST 818 E. St. Patrick Street, RAPID CITY

To learn more about Social Security or sign Senator Johnson’s citizen petition to oppose the privatization of the program, visit http://johnson.senate.gov.

[whistle]

1. Will these be televised on C-Span or cable....

[sarahlee]

2. I seriously doubt it

most reps town meetings are not broadcast. Local media *may* give them 15 seconds.

[existentialist]

3. local media

Actually, having attended a "localism in broadcast media" FCC Hearing last year, I know that one things local media need is local events to cover. They have to devote a ratio of their coverage to local events. With just a few hints to local media that locals are interested I think that the local coverage could be substantial.