Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:11 PM Mar 2015

Expanding Social Security: The Democratic Party Comes Home

Expanding Social Security: The Democratic Party Comes Home
Posted: 03/27/2015 11:32 am EDT Updated: 1 hour ago


In the wee hours of the morning, when most people were sleeping, the Senate took a vote that has momentous implications for who will win in 2016 and beyond. In three resounding votes over the last two days, Democrats rediscovered and reclaimed their legacy.

Just before recessing until April 13, the Senate passed a budget resolution. Prior to final passage, it voted on three separate Social Security amendments. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) offered an amendment protecting all Americans against cuts in their Social Security earned benefits. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) offered an amendment only protecting current beneficiaries from cuts. And around 2:30 a.m., Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) offered an amendment advocating the expansion of Social Security.

The results were revealing and important. Every Democratic Senator who was present but two voted to expand Social Security. Every Democratic senator but one voted against cutting Social Security's modest benefits.

In sharp contrast, no Republican voted to expand Social Security.
Every Republican but a mere six voted to keep open the option of cutting the earned Social Security benefits of every American except for those fortunate enough to already be receiving those benefits. (Sorry, those of you who are a month away from retiring or have a disabling or deadly illness or accident in your future. The Republicans refused to vote to protect you.)

The distinction between the Democrats and Republicans couldn't be clearer. The Democratic Party, which created Social Security, now in its 80th year, is unmistakably the strong champion of the program. The Republican Party which, in 1935, voted nearly unanimously to kill the legislation in the House of Representatives, is unmistakably on record for favoring scaling back working Americans' modest earned Social Security benefits.

The Democrats are finally back in line with the American people. ...

.....Despite this winning policy and politics, too many Democrats over the last few decades have waffled in their support. Too many flirted with trading away these modest but vital benefits in an ill-conceived "Grand Bargain." Thanks to last night's vote, that is now behind us, if the Democrats have their way.

....For too long, though, Americans did not have a clearly articulated choice about what is at stake. Too many politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, spoke in vague terms about "saving" or "strengthening" Social Security. With that language, voters don't know who truly is on their side. Now they know. Some policymakers stand for expanding, not cutting, Social Security. Others want to "save" Social Security by dismantling it brick by brick....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-altman/expanding-social-security_b_6955394.html


29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Expanding Social Security: The Democratic Party Comes Home (Original Post) RiverLover Mar 2015 OP
Oh-- Jackpine Radical Mar 2015 #1
LMFAO indeed ...just like it will be the lefts fault if Hillary looses. L0oniX Mar 2015 #9
That begs the question: LWolf Mar 2015 #2
Yep, the DINOs are Heitkamp & Carper. RiverLover Mar 2015 #7
Elizabeth Warren for Democratic Senate Leader nt WhiteTara Mar 2015 #27
Two opposite pronouncements on the same day FiveGoodMen Mar 2015 #3
Too bad we can't give Dino's like that asshole the boot immediately along with some tar & feathers. L0oniX Mar 2015 #5
yeah, because we'd much rather have a Rethug in the slot. pnwmom Mar 2015 #11
Any creep with a D is just fine and dandy with you. Got it. L0oniX Mar 2015 #19
He apparantly is a Rethug, just wearing sheep's clothing. Scuba Mar 2015 #23
That one's in the house. n/t hootinholler Mar 2015 #10
yeah, it's like the hair on fire brigade want so badly to have an issue Sheepshank Mar 2015 #17
"The Democrats are finally back in line with the American people" ...it's only a start. L0oniX Mar 2015 #4
True. RiverLover Mar 2015 #8
Agree. Need more of this, but for the moment, it's encouraging. closeupready Mar 2015 #16
Republicans feel the same way about Social Security as they do with Obama Care (ACA). B Calm Mar 2015 #6
Now that's a Democrat. That is what I have been waiting for the whole damn time. liberal_at_heart Mar 2015 #12
At the link it does not say what "expand Social Security" means. former9thward Mar 2015 #13
No specific numbers were proposed, you can read the whole thing here (.pdf) PoliticAverse Mar 2015 #21
Thank you. former9thward Mar 2015 #22
K&R nt stage left Mar 2015 #14
But Delaney on the House side wants to keep the Liberalynn Mar 2015 #15
As long as we have the veto I don't think it will pass but I could be wrong. jwirr Mar 2015 #20
Thanks for answering! Liberalynn Mar 2015 #28
I'm with you. Enthusiast Mar 2015 #26
Thank You! Liberalynn Mar 2015 #29
SSN and Medicare are the people's money Iliyah Mar 2015 #18
That is their problem. Otherwise it would already be gone. Enthusiast Mar 2015 #25
I would like to see it. Enthusiast Mar 2015 #24

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
1. Oh--
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:23 PM
Mar 2015

Just that crazy woman again.

If she's not careful, Wall Street will cut the handouts to ALL the Democrats & it will all be her fault.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
2. That begs the question:
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:36 PM
Mar 2015

Who are the "Democrats" that voted Nay?

If Sander's amendment referred to here is Wyden # 471, which is what I could find, the lone "Nay" vote belongs to Mark Warner.

The two voting "Nay" for Warren's amendment are Heidi Heitkamp and Tom Carper.

RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
7. Yep, the DINOs are Heitkamp & Carper.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:50 PM
Mar 2015
No, she's still not running for president, but Warren got all but two Democrats–Delaware Senator Tom Carper and North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp–to back an amendment co-sponsored by the far more conservative West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, to expand Social Security payments. That idea, introduced as legislation by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin in the last Congress, moved from the fringes to Democratic policy with lightning speed.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-27/silent-ted-cruz-triumphant-elizabeth-warren-and-the-other-2016-moments-of-vote-a-rama
 

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)
5. Too bad we can't give Dino's like that asshole the boot immediately along with some tar & feathers.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:45 PM
Mar 2015

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
11. yeah, because we'd much rather have a Rethug in the slot.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 04:49 PM
Mar 2015


If this is a safely blue state, then go ahead and replace him. Otherwise, be careful what you wish for.
 

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)
17. yeah, it's like the hair on fire brigade want so badly to have an issue
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 05:28 PM
Mar 2015

to try and beat over the head of those willing wait and see what this shit is really about.

It's pretty comical reading the negative prognostications...then a short while later, the reality that is disclosed.

 

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)
4. "The Democrats are finally back in line with the American people" ...it's only a start.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:43 PM
Mar 2015

They have a long way to go to restore Dem voter confidence.

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)
12. Now that's a Democrat. That is what I have been waiting for the whole damn time.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 04:49 PM
Mar 2015

Democrats not only need to fight current an future cuts to programs, they should be fighting for restoration of previous funding that has been taken away. We get more Democrats like this in government and I just might be able to rejoin the party. Until then I will continue to identify as a Socialist Independent.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
15. But Delaney on the House side wants to keep the
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 05:16 PM
Mar 2015

Senate Democrats out of the debate and wants to cut it. I don't know who's going to win in the end but I sure hope it's not the cutters.

Can someone either answer me here or PM me about what are the chances Delaney's proposal will actually get enacted? I'm on disability and nervous about all this.

 

Liberalynn

(7,549 posts)
29. Thank You!
Sun Mar 29, 2015, 04:48 PM
Mar 2015

It's upsetting when someone who is supposed to be on our side proposes something like this but at least there's hope it won't get through.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
25. That is their problem. Otherwise it would already be gone.
Sat Mar 28, 2015, 11:12 AM
Mar 2015

They just cannot get around the fact that we paid more than 2.7 trillion dollars in than we have taken out.

What other aspect of government has been so well funded? Absolutely nothing.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
24. I would like to see it.
Sat Mar 28, 2015, 11:09 AM
Mar 2015

The big problem is the media. There is one misinformation hit piece after another on TV and radio. They give the viewers the very worst, convoluted information. And we never heard a word to the contrary.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Expanding Social Security...