Larry Joe Doherty Pledges to Protect and Revitalize Social Security on its 73rd Anniversary

Calls McCaul, Republican Attempts to Bankrupt Program Failed Leadership

(AUSTIN) - Larry Joe Doherty, Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in Texas' 10th Congressional District, Thursday affirmed his dedication to revitalizing our nation's Social Security program which has proven so vital to millions of Americans. Doherty's announcement comes on the 73rd Anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt signing the program into law, and amid renewed Republican talks of privatizing the Social Security program. More than 3.1 million Texans, and 85,824 residents of Texas' 10th District, rely on the beneftis of Social Security in their everyday lives.

Doherty's opponent, Republican Michael McCaul, "unhesitatingly backs" Social Security privatization which, according to a recent report released by the Campaign for America's Future, could drive hundreds of thousands of Texans into poverty. The report states that, "more than 718,000 older people living in Texas would have a greater risk of falling into poverty, each losing more than $236,000 over the course of their lifetimes," because of privatization.

"I am 100 percent opposed to privatizing this American institution," said Doherty. "It has served our seniors well over the course of 73 years. Michael McCaul and the Republicans in Washington are trying to pull a bait-and-switch on the American public to benefit the Wall Street special interests and their own campaign war chests. We need to continue to responsibly fund Social Security so that it will be around to serve our grandkids just as it served our grandparents."

Republican's claim that the Social Security program is failing are flat out false. Social Security currently has a surplus, and according to cautious estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Social Security trust fund would not be depleted until 2046.

More than $35.4 billion flows into the Texas economy from Social Security each year due to those receiving benefits. The state government and the thousands of local businesses are also dependent upon the program. More than 546,000 Texans depend on their guaranteed Social Security benefits for 90 percent or more of their income. Diverting a portion of payroll taxes into risky private accounts could force many people below the poverty line leaving Social Security recipients vulernable to rising food, housing and energy costs.

McCaul's record in Congress shows he has consistently voted against funding for Social Security. He even voted to bankrupt the Social Security Trust Fund.

McCaul voted to spend every penny of the Social Security Trust Fund
In 2005, McCaul voted in favor of a budget conference report that spent $1.1 trillion of the Social Security Trust Fund over five years to pay for other  government spending. By bankrupting the trust fund, he would ensure that future generations would not receive payments on the money that they had put in  to the program. The bill passed 214-211 [HCR 95, Vote #149, 4/28/05].

McCaul voted again to strip $7.48 trillion out of Social Security
McCaul's vote against the budget resolution would strip $7.48 trillion out of the Social Security Program. The bill passed 212-207 [S. Con. Res. 21, Vote# 307, 5/8/2007].

McCaul voted three times against legislation that would provide funding for the Social Security Administration
The bill passed both the House and Senate, was vetoed by the President but failed to receive the necessary 2/3 vote in the House to override the veto [HR 3043, Vote #686, 7/19/07; HR 3043, Vote #1050, 11/6/07; HR 3043, Vote #1122, 11/15/07].

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