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>From http://washtimes.com/national/20020524-399983.htm
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The Washington Times
www.washtimes.com
Social Security memo gives GOP smoking gun
Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published 5/24/2002
Republicans have obtained a congressional staff memo they say proves that
Democrats want to use Social Security for scare tactics, not serious debate.
The memo, mistakenly sent by e-mail to a Republican staff member on Capitol
Hill, contains an apparent draft opinion piece on Social Security and reaction from
staffers in the office of Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Democrat. The memo argues that
President Bush and Republicans want to "privatize" Social Security, which the author
likens to "corporate gambling."
But another Kaptur staff member responded that the information in the opinion
piece was "not entirely factually accurate," adding: "Talk about scaring seniors � this
may be a little over the top. But it is sooo fun to bash Republicans." She included an
e-mail "smiley face" � :) � after her comment.
"This is exactly what Democratic leaders have been saying � scaring seniors,
lying, going over the top," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, Virginia Republican and
chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which
made the e-mail public.
But Democratic leaders dismissed complaints about the e-mail.
"If that is scaring people, then we're going to have to go back to the dictionary
and
figure out the word 'scare,' because if it's scaring them, it's scaring them because of
what is in the president's proposal," House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt
said.
By 2016, Social Security will take in less money each year in payroll taxes than
the program needs to cover beneficiaries. Last year, Mr. Bush charged a special
commission with examining ways to shore up the system, and they reported back
three alternatives based on personal investment accounts.
Republicans in Congress have come up with legislation on Social Security, but
leaders have said they don't want to move the bills this year and will instead use the
November elections to gauge support for the proposals.
Democrats, though, say the issue should be debated this year. Mr. Gephardt,
Missouri Democrat, introduced a procedural motion Wednesday designed to force a
vote in the House on the three plans proposed by the president's commission earlier
this year.
"We want people to understand the impact of privatization on their lives," Mr.
Gephardt said. "We want them to understand that privatization will cause a cut in
benefits. It will break our contract with the American people. It will fundamentally
change the way Social Security operates."
Mr. Davis, who as chairman of the NRCC is charged with getting House
Republicans elected, has said Republicans need a strategy to answer attacks on
Social Security but are confident they can respond adequately.
It's not clear whether the opinion piece from Miss Kaptur's office was ever used
in
a newspaper or mailing.
Steve Fought, the congresswoman's legislative director and press secretary, who
was on the recipient list for the e-mail exchange, did not return phone calls. But he
told the Associated Press that the e-mail discussion concerned whether to link
Republicans' plans on Social Security to the collapse of Enron Corp. Democrats
have tried to use the energy giant's failure, which emptied many of its employees'
retirement funds, as a symbol for why the president's proposal won't work.
The e-mail apparently was sent by accident to a Republican staff member in
March and ended up in the hands of Mr. Davis last week.
"That's just one that was sent to the wrong office. You wonder how many of these
go around every day from Democratic office to Democratic office that we never see,"
Mr. Davis said. "To think this is just a few errant staffers is naive."
Copyright � 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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