Sklar Pledges To Fight Efforts To Privatize Social Security, Meets With Seniors

[From the Campaign of Shane Sklar, Democrat for Congress in TX-CD-14]
VICTORIA, TX — Shane Sklar, Democratic candidate for United States Congress, met with area seniors today to celebrate the 71st anniversary of seniors living better, more independent lives thanks to Social Security and to discuss combating Republican efforts to privatize Social Security.

Republicans have declared their intention to continue risky privatization efforts in 2007. In fact, President Bush’s FY 2007 budget includes $712 billion over next 10 years for to convert Social Security’s guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble. At the event, Sklar signed a pledge to preserve Social Security and the independence it provides for today’s seniors and future generations.

“I pledge to oppose cuts in Social Security benefits, oppose raising the retirement age, and oppose privatizing Social Security,” said Sklar. “I further pledge to support changes that will ensure that Social Security is available to my children and their children’s children.”

Sklar called on voters to question other public officials about their stance on these important issues.

“My opponent sometimes likes to talk about his votes that he thinks will help seniors. We should remember that he told Washington Post that he thinks we don’t even need Social Security, because we were doing better in 1935 before the program began,” said Sklar. “1935 was in the middle of the Great Depression.”

“This week marks the 71st anniversary of Social Security, and we should celebrate the independence and dignity it has brought to growing older in America,” said Sklar. “As we look back on more than 70 years of proud history, we should we remember that Social Security was a promise made to people in 1935. To keep that promise, we need to stop raiding the Social Security trust fund and return to real fiscal discipline.”