FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2006
Contact: Christine Glunz
630-792-1290
 

Roskam Tells Two Different Tales on Social Security;

Tells Tax Group He’s For It While Telling Seniors He’s Against

 
LOMBARD – In a perfect illustration of politics-as-usual, Sixth District Congressional candidate Peter Roskam has given different answers to different groups on whether he supports privatizing Social Security.
 
In responding to a candidate questionnaire from the National Taxpayers Union, which supports privatization, Roskam answered “yes” to a question on whether he supports “personal Social Security accounts.”  But Roskam gave a completely different answer to the anti-privatization senior group AARP, writing in their questionnaire that he opposes privatization.  (National Taxpayers Union questionnaire; 2006 AARP candidate survey)
 
“Obviously, you can’t both be for and against privatization,” said Tammy Duckworth, who has consistently opposed privatization.  “It’s the perfect example of a politician telling different groups exactly what they want to hear.  That may be a trick that Peter Roskam uses in the courtroom when trying his personal injury lawsuits, but for someone who wants to represent our community in Congress, that kind of double-talk simply won’t fly.”
 
Duckworth noted that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) just sent a mail piece to voters across the Sixth District stating, that: “Peter Roskam will protect Social Security for Illinois retirees. . . Peter Roskam will stand against any plan to lower benefits, and he will fight any attempt to privatize Social Security.”  The NRCC also supplied the talking points on Social Security that Roskam submitted to AARP as his own, even though they conflict with the support for privatization that he communicated to the Taxpayers Union.
 
“Peter Roskam will rubber-stamp anything that his national party tells him,” Duckworth said.  “And, apparently, the NRCC is perfectly willing to lie about Roskam’s true positions in the mail they send into the Sixth District, just as they’ve lied about my positions on taxes and immigration.  These slimy tactics are offensive and really ought to stop.”
 
In the National Taxpayers Union questionnaire, Peter Roskam answered “yes” to the following statement: “I recognize that Social Security will default on its obligations to future retirees unless fundamental reforms are made. Therefore, I will work and vote for a system of Social Security Choice that will allow younger workers to have the choice of investing much of their Social Security taxes in regulated individual retirement accounts. Current retirees and those nearing retirement would not have any change in their Social Security benefits. Social Security Choice will give younger workers the option of ownership of personal Social Security accounts, with higher rates of return and better benefits than are possible under the current system.” (2006 NTU Candidate Survey, Question 3, http://www.ntu.org)
 
In his AARP questionnaire, Roskam wrote: “Without a doubt, Social Security must be protected. At the same time, I believe Social Security must be strengthened so that it can pay retirement benefits for years and years to come. Although no current or near retiree is facing benefit cuts, the benefits for future generations are at risk simply because the number of retirees continues to grow relative to the number of available workers who pay into the system. Therefore, I believe we should look at ways to improve the overall retirement security for all of us. If I am fortunate to serve you in Washington, I will examine all the proposals that are on the table. My position is that we must find a way to strengthen and protect Social Security without raising payroll taxes, without reducing benefits, without raising the retirement age and without privatizing the system.” (2006 AARP candidate survey, www.aarp.org)
 
Lauren Lowenstein
Tammy Duckworth for Congress
416 W 22nd Street
Lombard, IL 60148
 
phone: 630.792.1290
fax: 630.792.1291