Dent Backs Boehner for Speaker: Does Dent Have the “Courage” to Privatize Social Security?

Boehner Supports Raising the Retirement Age and Fought to Privatize Social Security

Harrisburg, PA – In a debate last night, Congressman Charlie Dent reiterated his support for John Boehner and his harmful agenda. Dent said he would vote for John Boehner for Speaker of the House, and he stated that it would be the most important vote of the next Congress. John Boehner has advocated for Social Security privatization, which will put seniors’ retirement savings in the hands of reckless Wall Street bankers. Boehner has even said that members of Congress needed the “courage” to privatize Social Security. In 2006, Boehner said that if he was in a leadership role, Congress would “get serious” about privatizing Social Security.

“Congressman Dent stated his clear support for John Boehner and his agenda that is harmful to Pennsylvania’s seniors,” said Mark Nicastre, spokesman with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “First, Congressman Dent tried to play Washington-style word games with his support for Social Security privatization. Now, Congressman Dent is clearly supporting John Boehner, who has said that Congress needed the ‘courage’ to privatize Social Security. Now that Dent has announced his support for Boehner, there’s only one question left: Does Dent have the ‘courage’ to privatize Social Security or will he keep playing Washington-style word games?”

Dent’s Washington-style Word Games on Social Security Privatization

In March 2005, Dent said he supported President Bush’s proposal to let younger workers put up to a third of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts, a plan commonly referred to as “privatization” of part of the Social Security system.

However, Dent claimed that private accounts were “not necessarily privatization.” He said privatization would only happen if some financial institution took over the Social Security system, something no one, not even President Bush, was proposing. [Morning Call, 3/17/2005

Boehner: Members Need the “Courage” to Privatize Social Security

“We need the courage to strengthen Social Security for our children and grandchildren. We can’t be blinded by nostalgia for a broken system or casual about the problems it’ll cause our families down the road.” [US Fed News, Boehner Answers Community’s Questions, 4/29/05]

“… Social Security reform must offer younger workers the opportunity to improve their rates of return using personal retirement accounts.” [DeMint Letter Signed by Boehner, 5/24/01]

Boehner in 2006: If I’m in a Leadership Role We’re Going to Get Serious About Privatizing Social Security

In an interview with the Washington Times Boehner highlighted his desire to privatize Social Social. “If I’m around in a leadership role come January, we’re going to get serious about (privatizing Social Security).” [Washington Times, July 30, 2006]

Boehner Supports Raising the Retirement Age

Boehner said he’d favor increasing the Social Security retirement age to 70 for people who have at least 20 years until retirement, tying cost-of-living increases to the consumer price index rather than wage inflation, and limiting payments to those who need them. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 6/29/2010]

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