From the Walz campaign office:
Tim Walz, Denver Congresswoman DeGette Visit Rochester Senior Center to Discuss Social Security
“Preserving the promise of Social Security is crucial to Minnesota’s seniors,” Walz says( Rochester , Minn. ) – Today, Tim Walz and Congresswoman Diana DeGette visited the Rochester Senior Center , where they talked with local senior citizens about the impact of the recent economic downturn and the importance of preserving Social Security.
Walz and DeGette, a member of the House Democratic Leadership and the Vice Chair of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, said that because southern Minnesota has a high percentage of residents over age 65, the economic crisis has had a significant impact on the lives of local seniors.
“Today, I heard from seniors who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Congressman Tim Walz. “For seniors who live on a fixed income, it is particularly hard to cope with the rising costs of gas, food and prescription drugs. That’s why it is more important than ever that we protect Social Security and fight any attempt to privatize it and gamble it away on the stock market.”
“Congressman Walz and I are both committed to making sure Social Security remains the most successful antipoverty program in the world,” said Congresswoman DeGette. “But in order to do that, southern Minnesota needs to send Congressman Walz back for another term. His opponent, Dr. Davis, has said he would gamble Social Security in the stock market. That would jeopardize the economic security of the seniors we talked to today in Rochester . Southern Minnesota needs Tim Walz to continue protecting their Social Security in these uncertain times.”
Last Spring, Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security. Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08, full transcription available on request]
Again, Despite the Economic Crisis, Davis Recently Said Again That He Supported Privatizing Social Security. “Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview, 9/25/08]
Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to Look at the Republican Party Platform. Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative platform republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP Convention, full transcription available on request]
Republican Party Platform of MN (pdf here)
Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page 2): Allowing all Americans to invest some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social Security funds for any other purpose.
In Civility, issues dominate Walz-Davis debate, MinnPost reports that the Social Security issue caused the one flare up in last night's debate. Apparently, the reporter hasn't seen the ad that prompted Davis's flare up, but is taking Davis's word for what's in the Walz comparison ad's content.
Photo: Congresswoman Diana DeGette.
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