TPM: "Tit's A Big Deal: Alan Simpson's Long History Of Advocating Social Security Cuts"

[KansDem]

From Talking Points Memo:



When Alan Simpson stepped in it late Tuesday he probably didn't think he'd find himself on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism and calls for him to resign his position as co-chair of the White House's fiscal reform commission. After all, comparing Social Security to a "milk cow with 310 million tits" is inartful and inapt, but hardly a terminal offense.

Except Alan Simpson isn't just any old Social Security commentator, and progressives, say what they will, weren't really reacting to the analogy or the questionable language. They were reacting to Simpson himself, who's spent much of his life looking for ways to fundamentally alter (he would say "enhance", but most would say "cut") Social Security. To them, Simpson's criticism was a harbinger of how the 18-member commission will propose to change the most popular entitlement program in the country, and it raises the question, again, of why President Obama appointed him in the first place.

Simpson, a Republican, was elected to the Senate in 1978 to represent the state of Wyoming, and wasted little time setting his sites on Social Security. "I just happen to believe that Social Security and Medicare are so out of whack they ought to be constantly subject to budgetary review to identify unnecessary duplicative activities in the same way that every other Federal program is," he said on September 16, 1985, according to the Congressional Record.

As chairman of the Social Security subcommittee, he had unusual influence over the program, and has since found himself at the epicenter of several efforts to reform taxes and entitlements over the years. In 1994, he served on President Clinton's Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform -- what's come to be known as the Kerrey-Danforth Commission named after its chairs, former Sens. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John Danforth (R-MO).

--more--
TPM

A good overview for those of you, like me, who need a refresher on who Alan Simpson is and what he intends to do with Social Security...

[JDPriestly]

1. Does anyone know the names of all of the members of the commission?

[KansDem]

2. Here...

President Obama Names Members of Bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama named the following individuals to serve on the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform being co-chaired by former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Republican Senate Whip Alan Simpson:

David Cote, Member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
Ann Fudge, Member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
Alice Rivlin, Member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
Andy Stern, Member, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform

President Obama said, “For far too long, Washington has avoided the tough choices necessary to solve our fiscal problems. I am proud that these distinguished individuals have agreed to work to build a bipartisan consensus to put America on the path toward fiscal reform and responsibility. I know they’ll take up their work with the sense of integrity and strength of commitment that the American people deserve and America’s future demands.”

The bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform will make recommendations to Congress by December 1, 2010 to put the budget in primary balance so that all operations and programs for the federal government are paid for (achieving deficits of about 3 percent of GDP) by 2015 and to meaningfully improve the long-term fiscal outlook. With today’s appointments the President has named 6 bipartisan appointees to the commission. The remaining 12 members of the commission will be appointed by Senate and House leaders (3 each by the Republican and Democratic leaders of both chambers).

President Obama named the following individuals as members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform:

Dave Cote has served since 2002 as chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Honeywell, a diversified technology and manufacturing leader. Under Cote’s leadership, Honeywell has delivered strong performance in sales, earnings per share, segment profit, and cash flow. He has served on the U.S.-India CEO Forum since 2005 and was named co-chair by President Obama in 2009. Previously, he was chairman, chief executive officer, and president of TRW. He joined TRW from General Electric, where he served 25 years in various manufacturing, finance, and management positions. He received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Foreign Policy Association in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire.

Ann Fudge served as chairman and chief executive officer of Young & Rubicam Brands from 2003 to 2006. Prior to joining Young & Rubicam Brands, she worked at General Mills and Kraft, where she served in a number of senior executive positions. Fudge is not only a proven business leader, but also an engaged civic voice having served on the boards of the Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She is a graduate of Simmons College and Harvard Business School.

Alice Rivlin is a senior fellow in the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution and visiting professor at Georgetown University. Before returning to Brookings, she served in a variety of senior public policy roles including vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, chair of the District of Columbia Financial Management Assistance Authority, and founding director of the Congressional Budget Office. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and received her Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, represents 2.2 million healthcare workers, janitors, security officers, public employees, and other hardworking women and men in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As both a labor leader and an activist, he is a leading voice and aggressive advocate for practical solutions to achieve economic opportunity and justice for workers. Stern began working as a social service worker and member of SEIU Local 668 in 1973 and rose through the ranks before his election as SEIU president in 1996. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

White House

[hlthe2b]

5. So Andy Stern is likely the only reasonable one who might

be trusted? The rest seem to be corporatists or RWers...:shrug:

[JDPriestly]

7. Becerra is considered to be a liberal, but he is very concerned about the

budget deficit. I argue that the budget deficit is the result of joblessness which is the result of our "fee" trade policy. ("Free" meaning that we hand our jobs, our wealth and ultimately our security over to third world dictators and multinational companies that simply maraud the planet for the gain of a few.)

[avaistheone1]

9. Jeeez! a major hunk of this deficit is the Bush tax cuts.

These commissioners don't have to look too far if they want to solve the problem.

This is not a difficult to resolve:
Eliminate the Bush tax cuts. The wars/Pentagon are sucking the money and life out of this country = shutting the wars down and cutting the Pentagon's budget by at least a third. If those changes could be made this country would have an economic chance.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Co-Chairs-Erskine Bowles, Alan Simpson

members-Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union; Dave Cote, CEO of Honeywell; Alice Rivlin, former Vice-Chair of the Federal Reserve and former Director of the Congressional Budget Office; and Ann Fudge, former CEO of Young and Rubican Brands,Richard J. Durbin of Illinois; Max Baucus of Montana; and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma; Judd Gregg of New Hampshire; and Michael Crapo of Idaho, John Spratt, Jr. of South Caroline; Xavier Becerra of California; and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin; Dave Camp of Michigan; and Jeb Hensarling of Texas.

[JDPriestly]

6. Here we go:

Representative John M. Spratt Jr. of South Carolina
Representative Xavier Becerra of California
Representative Jan Schakowsky
Erskine Bowles
Alan K. Simpson
Bruce Reed (DLC and close to Rahm Emmanuel)
Dave Cote, a Republican executive (Honeywell)
Andy Stern
Ann Fudge
Alice Rivlin, a former vice chairwoman of the Federal Reserve
Kent Conrad of North Dakota
Max Baucus of Montana
Richard J. Durbin
Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
Judd Gregg
Michael D. Crapo
Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin
Dave Camp of Michigan
Jeb Hensarling of Texas

"The panel has 10 Democrats and eight Republicans, but a requirement that 14 members support any recommendations it sends to Congress effectively gives the Republicans veto power."

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/pelosi-names-3-to-obamas-deficit-panel

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. That is one SERIOUSLY STACKED commission --

I had not seen the full list -- good god, what a fucking disaster. :cry:

[slipslidingaway]

4. knr n/t

[diane in sf]

10. my letter to whitehouse.gov today:

Please eliminate the "catfood commission." The fact it exists at all is highly offensive to me.

Alan Simpson is only a nasty old man, but the commission obviously exists to end run congress and damage social security under the guise of budget balancing.

Let's take the cap off payroll taxes which will provide adequate social security funding forever. And let people who are long term unemployed retire with full benefits at 55. This will provide more jobs for young people.

I donated my time and money to elect Mr. Obama, not people who are going to further the agenda of the right wing in trying to cut social security and other social programs.

I have switched to funding candidates directly and through Act Blue--I'm not paying to put DINOs in office. You may call me a professional leftist or progressive if you wish.

I will likely be relying on social security to provide most of my retirement income. It is only in the last three years that I have even had an employer offer me substantial retirement benefits. I had to cash in my IRA to live when the Bush recession cost me about 60% of my income for 5 years.

I am not the only person in this boat. So many of my friends are in their 50s and 60s, under- or unemployed. What's going to happen to them if the catfood commission succeeds in its evil goals? I can't keep all of my friends afloat. Do I turn my back on the homeless and desperate?

We should follow the example of Europe and provide social funding--it creates a better, more robust economy. I don't want to grow old in a third world country.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Simpson's an ass, always has been

K&R

[Poboy]

12. informative KandR -nt

[slipslidingaway]

13. kick nt

[myrna minx]

14. K&R n/t