New GOP Talking Point: Retirement Bill!

The GOP is coming up with a new way to sale their Social Security privatization plan, just call it something else.

Retirement Bill!

House Republicans are ready to roll up their sleeves and do some hard work on Social Security. We look forward to searching for solutions so that younger workers aren't left with an empty promise from the government," said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.

Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters he envisioned legislation that "won't just be a Social Security bill."

"It will be a retirement bill," Thomas said, indicating it would also include steps to encourage private retirement savings. He also signaled that the legislation could include provisions to ease the cost of long term or chronic health care for the elderly.

lol, good one Mr. Thomas. It is more like an early retirement bill for Congressional Republicans.

House Republicans announced plans today draft Social Security legislation by June and President Bush continues to scare American people.

House Republicans picked up the pace as Bush made his first public appearance since prodding lawmakers to consider reducing the benefits guaranteed to future middle and upper income retirees as part of a plan to assure the solvency of the Depression-era program.
"I have a duty to put ideas on the table, and I'm putting them on the table," the president said in suburban Falls Church. Va.

"If you're a younger worker, and you start paying into the payroll system today, and 2041 is about the time you start retiring, I'm telling you, the system is going to be bankrupt unless we do something about it," he added.

"In other words, you're working all your life, you're putting money in, and by the time it comes for you to get ready to retire, there's nothing there," Bush said. "That's a problem, folks, and it requires a solution, requires people to come together to make this work."

The outing was a follow-up to a prime-time news conference on Thursday, and he told his audience that "those who block meaningful reform are going to be held to account in the polls."

Those who privatize Social Security and cut benefits for lower/middle income people then call meaningful reform are going to be held to account in the polls.