Republicans have a long history of voting against Social Security. Right from the beginning, in 1935, the majority of Republicans tried to send it back to committee to kill it. According to an AFL-CIO leaflet:
• In 1939, the majority of Senate and House Republicans voted against benefits to survivors and dependents.
• In 1950, they voted against disability insurance.
• In 1965, the majority voted to end Medicare.
• In 1977, they voted against an increase in payroll taxes that would keep the system solvent.
• In 1981, President Reagan proposed $35 billion cuts to Social Security to take place over the next five years.
• In 1981, the majority of House and Senate Republicans voted for a $22 billion cut in Social Security and Medicare. The White House proposed $200 billion in Social Security cuts over the next eight years.
• In 1990, Republicans began an appeal to young people to invest their Social Security payments for themselves.
We would be foolish to let Republicans try to fix a program when their hearts aren’t in it. This job belongs in the hands of Democrats, who have a long history of being committed to a Social Security program that works for everybody, for generations to come.
Jan Kubiac, Albany Township
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