DAY 74: Nunnelee Studies if Seniors Deserve Social Security
The Desoto Times reported major news last evening that state Senator and congressional candidate Alan Nunnelee (MS-01) is now studying plans to privatize Social Security. Nunnelee’s primary opponents, Angela McGlowan and Henry Ross both reaffirmed their support of Bush-era privatization plans at the event. Representative Travis Childers opposes privatization.
“For 74 days Alan Nunnelee has dodged questions about whether he supports privatizing Social Security and now he tells Mississippi seniors that he’s begun studying whether they deserve their Social Security or whether he’ll privatize it,” said Jesse Ferguson, Southern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If Alan Nunnelee needs to study whether plans that would gamble Social Security money on Wall Street are worthwhile, then Mississippi seniors have learned all they needed about whether he can represent them in Congress. Mississippi seniors need someone who stands ironclad in supporting them, not someone studying if they’re worth it.”
At a debate last night, Nunnelee said he is “studying such proposals and has yet taken an ironclad position privatization.” In an early April interview, Nunnelee “did not offer any specific ideas when asked” about his support for the controversial privatization of Social Security. He previously “steered clear of the specifics” on a controversial House Republican leadership budget proposal that includes Social Security privatization in a local television interview 74 days ago.
Background
Yesterday – Nunnelee started studying. In response to a question last evening, state Senator Nunnelee said he had begun studying plans to privatize social security but has not developed an “ironclad” position. Both of his primary opponents, Henry Ross and Angela McGlowan, continued to voice support. [Desoto Times, 5/4/10]
30 Days Ago – Nunnelee Still Silent. In early April, state Senator Nunnelee refused to answer an inquiry from the Daily Journal about his support for privatizing Social Security. Both of his primary opponents, Henry Ross and Angela McGlowan, have voiced support. [NEMS Daily Journal, 4/4/10]
74 Days Ago – Nunnelee Silent. On February 19, 2010, state Senator Nunnelee “steered clear of the specifics” when asked about the controversial GOP budget proposal that included Social Security privatization by a local television station. [WCBI, 2/19/10]
House GOP Leader supports privatizing Social Security. In May 2001, now NRCC Chairman Representative Pete Sessions, co-signed a letter to the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security urging for privatization. The letter read, “Social Security reform must offer younger workers the opportunity to improve their rates of return using personal retirement accounts.” [Rep. Jim DeMint Letter to The Social Security Reform Commission, 5/24/01]
Alan Nunnelee is a part of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s list of “Contenders” in their Young Gun candidate program. [NRCC]
House Republican leaders in Washington have re-introduced a plan, sponsored by ranking Republican budget committee member Representative Paul Ryan, that returns to the Bush-era concept of privatizing Social Security in Wall Street accounts. [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/10/10] In 2005, President Bush went on a 60 stops in 60 days Social Security tour, following him outlining the details of his private account plan in his February State of the Union Address. [Washington Post, 4/27/05]
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