DCCC automated messages attack Gerlach on social security.

July may not be election season, but that isn’t stopping The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) from sending automated phone messages to thousands of Pennsylvanians.

The message targets Representative Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania’s 6th district for his support of a Republican leadership plan which would, “end social security as we know it.”

According to the DCCC the plan comes from National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions, who was responsible for Gerlach’s reelection.

Sessions has often led the push to privatize social security.  Last month he introduced legislation that would allow workers to fully opt out of Social Security after 15 years.

Gerlach voted for the Republican budget plan in April which “would essentially end Medicare” as the Wall Street journal famously reported.

Gerlach responded to the DCCC claims, saying that he was not one of the 6 co-sponsors of the legislation in question.

“This smear campaign is all about fostering fear and ignoring the facts.” Gerlach told PoliticsPA “Neither the House Republican budget or any other plan to eliminate wasteful Washington spending would break the promises we’ve made to Social Security recipients.”

A spokesman for the NRCC said, “Democrats can try to distract from their policies that let Medicare go bankrupt and make a bad economy worse, but middle class families realize that they’re suffering from a weak economy because of the Democrats’ addiction to taxing, spending and borrowing.  Republicans are shifting the debate in Washington to one of cutting spending and saving future generations from being indebted to foreign countries like China.  This is yet another phony attack by Washington Democrats who are desperate.”

DCCC call script:

Hi, this is Clare calling on behalf of the DCCC.  What does Congressman Jim Gerlach have against seniors?

First Gerlach voted with his Republican leadership to end Medicare while protecting subsidies for Big Oil and tax breaks for billionaires.  Now, they are trying to privatize Social Security.

Republican leaders’ scheme to gamble the Social Security that seniors worked a lifetime to earn on Wall Street is way too dangerous.  One bad market could wipe out years of savings, putting generations of retirees at risk.

Call Congressman Jim Gerlach at (610) 409-2780 and tell him not to gamble Social Security on Wall Street.”