Harry Reid - SS Privatization and Raising the Retirement Age "Off the Table"

[lame54]

http://crooksandliars.com/julia-rosen/reid-social-security-table (for video)

At an event with progressive activists last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took major Social Security cuts and privatization completely off the legislative table.

"As long as I'm the Majority Leader, I'm going to do everything within my legislative powers to prevent privatizing or eliminating Social Security," Reid said. "I'll simply say it's off the table."

You can watch video of the event below, courtesy of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. The key quote comes at the end of the clip.

Reid's been a pretty staunch defender of Social Security, but this statement goes a bit further than previous ones. Most recently, on Meet the Press, he said he wouldn't be a part of any effort to undermine the program. But now, he's taken privatization and raising the retirement age off the table.

[DJ13]

1. I wish they would say everything except lifting the cap is off the table

All this slicing and dicing instead of just a straight answer is tiresome.

[cutlassmama]

2. Yes, they need to lift the damn cap. It would solve everything!

[TheWraith]

4. They can't, they have to humor the people with other ideas.

To get anything passed, they need some Republicans in the House. Those Reps are easier to get if they can be wooed into believing they had a hand in shaping the policy.

[TheWraith]

3. As is benefit cuts to existing payees, as per Obama's SOTU.

That leaves benefit cuts to future generations who haven't paid in (unlikely), lifting the cap, raising the FICA tax rate (unlikely), or cash infusions from another venue, such as the general budget or a new tax.

[jwirr]

5. Thank you Harry.

[Kingofalldems]

8. Yep.

Kick again.

[Omaha Steve]

6. K&R!

[Kingofalldems]

7. K and R

Repubs and their allies will not like this one.

[hootinholler]

9. WTF? this only has 13 recs?

What is wrong with us?

-Hoot

[lame54]

10. thanks for yours