What's New

Committee Schedule

Prints and Publications

Rules and Jurisdiction

Legislative Resources

Search the
Committee's site

Committee Membership

Committee News Releases

Chairmen's Portraits Page

FULL COMMITTEE

Tax Issues Only

SUBCOMMITTEES:

Trade

Oversight

Health

Social Security

Human Resources

Select Revenue Measures

Privacy, Copyright, and Permission to Link Statement

Committee on Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Social Security

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
March 25, 2002

Democrats Put Politics Above
Progress on Social Security --

Gephardt Should Develop a Constructive Plan,
Instead of Partisan Maneuvering, says Shaw

WASHINGTON -- In a letter to the House's Democratic leader today, Chairman Clay Shaw (R-FL) of the Social Security Subcommittee expresses frustration that Democrats are not committed to saving Social Security and instead are engaging in partisan, election-year politics with the nation's most important retirement system.

"Your strategy to not propose a Democratic leadership plan and instead use the issue as an election jackhammer against anyone promoting strengthening the program is jeopardizing needed efforts to secure Social Security's future…you are demanding a full debate on Social Security, even though you bring nothing to the table…the distinction between your political maneuvering and constructive "debate" is not lost on the public," Shaw blasted.

"You know just as well as I do the Social Security trust funds have no dollars to "raid."…Social Security continues to work just the way it always has, …and every senior will continue to receive every penny of his Social Security check," Shaw added.  "You likened the program to Enron's pension system, a particularly uninformed analogy…our auditors and trustees, unlike Enron's, have fully informed us of the problem, whether you wish to believe the whistleblowers or not."

The forecasts by the Social Security Board of Trustees, which will be updated tomorrow, show long-term and serious financial problems facing the system.  After 2016, Social Security will take in less than it needs to pay benefits -- the difference will have to be made up through tax increases, benefit cuts or another innovative solution.  Chairman Shaw and House Republicans have offered a variety of proposals that would save and strengthen the system for future generations.   The Democratic leadership has offered nothing but criticism from the sidelines.

A complete copy of Chairman Shaw's letter to House Minority Leader Gephardt will follow.

Clink on the link for a copy of the Gephardt letter.

For more information about Shaw's Social Security Guarantee Plus Plan, please visit http://www.house.gov/shaw/ssindex.html