Scott Powers
The Florida Alliance For Retired Americans, a non-partisan organization that is nonetheless affiliated with the AFL-CIO, has called for all candidates to sign a pledge to preserve Social Security.
The organization, which claims 200,000 members in Florida, is seeking public pledge signatures on a statement declaring, “to oppose every effort to privatize, cut benefits or raise the retirement age.” Such a pledge would run counter to many Republicans’ — and even a few Democrats’ — proposals to offer market alternatives to Social Security or raise the retirement age.
The organization will discuss the pledge and the plan to “birddog” candidates around the state at its upcoming quarterly executive board meeting next Monday in Lakeland.
“This election we are giving candidates the chance to show who they stand with: millions of retirees or the money managers, ideologues, and misguided partisans who want to make a quick buck for themselves,” FLARA President Bill Sauers stated in a news release. “Social Security recently turned 81 years old and for millions of Floridians it has been the only thing keeping them out of poverty or able to maintain a secure retirement. But too many politicians think that privatization, benefit cuts or even ending the program all together will somehow magically allow workers a better retirement without the safety net there to protect them.”
The pledge, which will be printed on oversized posters to give politicians the chance to sign it, also calls for candidates to pledge, “to expand Social Security so that every American can retire with dignity and respect.”
