Sweetland attacks Maffei on Social Security
Syracuse Post-Standard
Mike McAndrew
October 22nd, 2008
Maffei says he has never favored privatization. Sweetland disagrees.
Republican congressional candidate Dale Sweetland accused Democrat Dan Maffei this week of flip-flopping on privatizing the Social Security system, but an organization whose goal is to preserve Social Security backs Maffei.
"My opponent has, in the past, advocated for the privatization of Social Security," Sweetland said. "While he has since flipped his position, I have never favored privatization."
Maffei who was endorsed Monday by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said he has always opposed replacing Social Security with individually controlled retirement accounts.
Reform of the Social Security system which is projected to be short of money in 33 years has been overshadowed as an issue in the 25th Congressional District campaign.
Sweetland, Maffei and Green Populist candidate Howie Hawkins all say they oppose privatization which President Bush pushed.
In 2041, the fund is expected to be unable to pay the full benefits owed to retirees, disabled workers and their dependents, the Social Security fund's trustees said.
Maffei said he does not agree the Social Security system is in a crisis. "There's certainly a solvency challenge. If you want to call it a problem, fine," he said.
Sweetland said he opposes increasing the 6.2 percent FICA tax that employers and employees pay. He suggested reducing benefits for Americans who are not now old enough to be taxed. He opposed decreasing benefits for workers already paying the tax.
In addition, Sweetland proposed eliminating income taxes on benefits if a retiree earns less than $34,000 individually or $71,000 as a couple. Currently, the limit is $25,000 for individuals and $52,000 for couples.
Less than one-third of Social Security recipients pay taxes on their benefits, according to the Social Security Administration.
Hawkins suggested shoring up Social Security by making higher earners pay more FICA taxes. Currently, the tax is collected on wages up to $102,000.
Maffei said Congress might have to consider a combination of options.
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security endorsed Maffei without contacting his opponents. The committee also endorsed Maffei in his 2006 congressional campaign.
Since 1998, Maffei has been quoted in numerous news stories expressing opposition to privatizing Social Security.
But Sweetland accused Maffei of supporting privatizing the Social Security system in 1998 when Maffei was the late Sen. Daniel Moynihan's press secretary.
Maffei acknowledged he sent out a Moynihan news release in which the senator proposed lowering the FICA tax rate and allowing individuals to invest the savings in individually controlled retirement accounts. Maffei said he didn't agree with Moynihan's entire Social Security proposal.
Mike McAndrew can be reached at mmcandrew@syracuse.com or 470-3016.
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