From: "Sarah Swisher"

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES                         Contact: Allison Dobson/
Maureen Knightly

April 11,
2005                                                                    
           202-224-3254

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

HARKIN MOBILE OFFICE TO HOLD FIX IT, DON’T NIX IT

SOCIAL SECURITY TOUR IN IOWA CITY

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that
members of his staff will be conducting a Social Security forum in Iowa
City on the Kirkwood Community College campus.  The public forum will
discuss the need to protect and strengthen Social Security without
risking its future through privatization.

“I want to work with the president to strengthen Social Security, but I
want to do it right,” Harkin said.  “There is no excuse to rush into a
plan that will cut benefits for America’s seniors, adds trillions to
the debt, and does nothing to strengthen the program.  That is
unacceptable and the American people are rejecting that approach.”

President Bush’s privatization commission has proposed creating private
Social Security accounts that would cut benefits by one-third or more,
even for those who choose not to invest in privatized accounts. 
Workers could invest two-thirds of their Social Security contribution
in stocks and bonds, but those returns could not make up for the deep
benefit cuts and would be subject to the whims of Wall Street. 

Even many supporters of the president’s plan acknowledge that private
accounts have nothing to do with ensuring the long-term financial
health of Social Security.  In fact, to fund the private accounts, the
government would have to borrow almost $5 trillion dollars over the
first 20 years from foreign countries like China and Japan – making
Social Security’s financial problems much worse and even further from
being solved.

“We must be responsible and take reasonable, moderate steps to
strengthen Social Security for future generations,” Harkin said. 
“Millions of Iowa seniors, Americans with disabilities and others who
rely on Social Security are depending on Congress and the president to
protect this program.   I hope the president will work with Congress to
do just that.” 

WHO:            KIM TAYLOR AND TOM LARKIN

AIDES TO SENATOR TOM HARKIN

WHAT:           SOCIAL SECURITY FORUM
WHEN:           APRIL 21, 2005, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:        KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
IOWA CITY CAMPUS, ROOM 216

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- posted by John @ 11:32 AM