1)  AARP Poll on Social Security

2) 	Pomeroy: Social Security Benefit Cuts "Completely
Unacceptable" 



1)	Social Security 75th Anniversary Survey Report: Public
Opinion Trends

by: Colette Thayer, Ph.D., AARP Research & Strategic

http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-08-2010/social_security_75th.html

The latest assessment of Social Security by the American
public continues to reflect the strong support that has
also characterized two earlier assessments. All four
AARP surveys--conducted to celebrate the 50th (1985),
60th (1995), 70th (2005), and 75th (2010) anniversaries
of Social Security's founding--have demonstrated the high
regard that the American public has for Social Security
as an important American institution, not only for
America's retired citizens, but for the entire American
adult population.

On the 75th anniversary of Social Security, public
support for the program remains exceedingly high.
Consistent with previous anniversary surveys in 2005,
1995, and 1985, a majority of adults age 18 and older
believe Social Security is one of the most important
government programs and that it provides financial
security to older Americans and helps them remain
independent. While many are concerned about the future
of Social Security, their lack of confidence does not
diminish their support for it. In addition,
misperceptions may fuel some of the public anxiety about
the future of Social Security. For example, few
understand that Social Security will still be able to
pay reduced benefits even when the Trust Fund is
exhausted. Moreover, the public is inclined to pay more
to get the same benefits as today than to see benefits
reduced. Given the importance Americans place on Social
Security, it is not surprising that they overwhelmingly
oppose cutting it to help reduce the federal deficit.

The following themes emerge from the survey's key
findings:

* Lack of confidence in the future of Social Security is
not equivalent to lack of support for it. Despite
skepticism about the future of the program, most plan to
rely on it. Even among those non-retirees who are not
too or not at all confident about the future of the
Social Security system (635 respondents), 84% agree with
the statement that "Maybe I won't need Social Security
when I retire, but I definitely want to know it's there
just in case I do." In addition, the overall public's
low level of confidence in the future of Social Security
(35% are very or somewhat confident in the future of the
program) is not surprising since the public has been
informed of the upcoming "exhaustion" of the Social
Security Trust Fund for years but nearly eight in ten
adults believe either that Social Security will not be
able to pay any benefits when the fund is exhausted or
they do not know whether it will be able to do so.
Clearly, Americans rely on Social Security and expect it
to be a source of income in their retirement. In fact,
it is the most commonly cited largest source of
retirement income among adults. A majority of adults
believe their family would be hard hit if Social
Security were cut while few believe most people on
Social Security could do very well without it.

* Americans place a high value on Social Security and
support more revenue for it even in a time when concerns
about the federal deficit and government spending are
high. Half of non-retired adults would be willing to pay
more now in payroll taxes to ensure Social Security will
be there for today's older people and a similar
proportion would be willing to do so to ensure it will
be there for them when they retire. At the same time,
half of Americans believe the average benefit is too low
and a majority would prefer to pay more into Social
Security to get the same level of benefits as today than
to have benefit cuts.

* Although they are far from claiming Social Security
retirement benefits, younger Americans are very
supportive of the program. While younger Americans lack
confidence in Social Security more than older Americans,
they value the program. Nine in ten adults under age 30
believe Social Security is an important government
program, and over nine in ten want to know it is there
when they retire just in case they need it.

The results of the Social Security 75th Anniversary
Survey are based on 1,200 responses to a telephone
survey conducted July 15th to July 27th, 2010 by  GfK
Roper among adults at least 18 years old. For more
information, please contact Colette Thayer at (202)
434-6294.  (48 pages)



2)	Pomeroy: Social Security Benefit Cuts "Completely
Unacceptable" 

By: David Dayen 

Wednesday August 11, 2010  1:25 pm

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/08/11/pomeroy-social-security-benefit-cuts-completely-unacceptable/



Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), the chair of the Social Security
Subcommittee on the House Ways and Means Committee, said
that any benefit cuts to the program, including raising
the retirement age, are "completely unacceptable" and
should be taken off the table, contrasting many
Democrats and even the House Majority Leader on the
topic.

While Pomeroy followed the lead of many House Democrats
and confined his attacks to the GOP on the subject, his
critique of "an atmosphere of benefit cuts first"
rebukes the likes of Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn,
members of the House leadership who have floated the
prospect of raising the retirement age to bring the
program into long-term actuarial balance (Even by doing
nothing, Social Security can pay out all scheduled
benefits through 2037, and pay 78% of all benefits
forever after that).

"Even a phased-in adjustment in the age would change the
terms of the deal," Pomeroy said, noting that the
retirement age is already scheduled to rise gradually to
67, as part of the terms of a 1983 deal on the program.
"We think that benefit cuts are not the place you look
at. There has been an atmosphere of benefit cuts first.
There should not be benefit cuts period," he added.
"That is completely unacceptable... it would be a breach
of faith with 53 million present SS recipients and tens
of millions to follow."

Pomeroy cited statistics that just 11% of all senior
citizens are in poverty now, compared to 50% prior to
Social Security, which celebrates its 75th anniversary
on Saturday. Noting that the average benefit comes out
to about $14,000 a year, Pomeroy and his colleagues on
the call, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep. Ron Klein
(D-FL) repeatedly rejected any calls for benefit cuts.
Schakowsky said that revenue enhancements, like bringing
the payroll tax cap back to its expected level of
capturing 90% of all compensation, would be preferable.
The trio also rejected any talk of privatization with
personal accounts in the stock market. "How much risk do
you want to add into this system that pays $14,000 a
year," Pomeroy asked. "We need one place where income is
completely dependable."

Klein agreed. "My seniors are adamant against benefit
cuts. They feel like they paid into it. For many, this
is their sole basis of income day to day. It's not
something I'm willing to negotiate on."

In addition to fighting cuts to the program, Pomeroy has
introduced the Senior's Protection Act, which would
provide a $250 one-time benefit to recipients next year
if the Bureau of Labor Statistics fails to enact a
cost-of-living adjustment. 2009 saw no COLA because of
falling prices, and there was a $250 benefit added to
the Recovery Act. Pomeroy said he expected his bill to
pass the House in September.

Asked about the deficit commission (the reporter
actually called it the "cat food commission") on which
she sits, Schakowsky said firmly that "Social Security
has absolutely nothing to do with the deficit. In fact,
the deficit would be $2.4T worse without Social
Security," because of the money raided from the Social
Security Trust Fund. She acknowledged that some on the
committee wanted to cut benefits, but she was seeking
other options and would reject any use of Social
Security to pay down the deficit.

A new poll out today shows that the public opposes any
benefit cuts to the program. This is consistent with the
findings of these three Representatives as they talk to
constituents in their districts. When the Washington
Post talks about "deniers" that Social Security needs
reform, in the name of cutting benefits, they're talking
about the overwhelming majority of the population.

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