FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June 22,
2007
Contact: Jessica Rhoades
406.442.9520
Rep. Rehberg & Brad Johnson Won't Say
Where They Stand on Romney's Plan to Privatize Social
Security
(Helena, MT) -- Montana Democrats today called on the state's
Republican leaders to say whether or not they support privatizing Social Security as presidential candidate Mitt Romney does.
Romney addressed Republican faithful in Helena at Rehberg and Johnson's invitation this morning. He declared his
support for the Bush-Cheney proposal to privatize Social Security and cut benefits for seniors two weeks ago. Secretary of State Brad Johnson has
been named Romney's campaign chair in Montana.
"Congressman Rehberg and Brad Johnson
need to come clean with the people of Montana and tell us whether they
support Romney's plan to privatize Social Security. Both of them frankly have been ducking and weaving on this important
issue for a long time," said Dennis McDonald, Chair of the Montana Democratic Party. "With Mitt Romney in town today, it's a
great time for Rep. Rehberg and Mr. Johnson to tell Montana exactly where they stand."
Last week, it was reported that "Romney praised Bush's idea of personal accounts and said they would make up for some of the expected shortfall in the trust fund. He also said changing
the
retirement age could be considered, as well as basing the Social Security cost of living adjustment on a different inflation gauge." [New Hampshire
Union Leader, 6/7/2007]
"We know what Senators Baucus and
Tester, and Gov. Schweitzer think of privatizing Social Security: They oppose it strongly. Seniors here in
Montana are very concerned about Romney's plan to privatize Social Security. We have to protect Social Security from people
like Mitt Romney, who want to take our retirement money and throw it on Wall Street for the hedge funds to gamble with. That is wrong.
Why all this silence from Rehberg and Johnson?" McDonald added.
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