Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Flashback: Dems Cheer Blocking Reform

During the 2006 State Of The Union Address, Bush had said that he worked to reform Social Security to save it and was blocked by the Demotwits in the House and Senate. He didn't get a standing ovation for it, but Hillary and company gave themselves a standing ovation for blocking reform and keeping America in debt.



The Democrats ought to be proud of their efforts. Social Security is due to be running in the red come 2016. From the Washington Post:

The financial health of the Social Security system has eroded more sharply in the past year than at any time since the mid-1990s, according to a government forecast that ratchets up pressure on the Obama administration and Congress to stabilize the retirement system that keeps many older Americans out of poverty.

The report, issued yesterday by the trustees who monitor the government's two main forms of help for the elderly, shows that Medicare has become more fragile as well and is at greater risk than Social Security of imminent fiscal collapse. Starting eight years from now, the report says, the health insurance program will be unable to pay all its hospital bills.

The findings put a stark new face on the toll the recession has taken on the two enormous entitlement programs. They also intensify a political debate, gathering strength among Democrats and Republicans, over how quickly President Obama should tackle Social Security when health-care reform is his administration's most urgent domestic priority...

Specifically, the trustees' report predicts that the trust fund from which Social Security payments are made will be unable to pay retirees full benefits by 2037, four years earlier than forecast a year ago. In particular, the trustees single out the financial weakness of the part of the program that subsidizes disabled Americans, saying that fund will run out of money in 2020.


Any bets that they will still blame Bush for this in 10 years after he tried to reform Social Security?

Hat tip to my friend over at Founding Bloggers.

1 comment:

innominatus said...

Reminds me of Bawney Fwank saying everything is fine at Fannie/Freddie, but blaming Bush when it all crapped out.

There is a pattern forming...