From the Hartford Courant:
John Larson is the Social Security congressman.
Larson, 78, has built his career around Social Security as his signature issue. He says he needs to win this November so that he can become the chairman of the powerful Social Security subcommittee if the Democrats regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
But challenger Luke Bronin is criticizing Larson on his signature issue as they head toward the Aug. 11 Democratic primary in a competitive four-way race. Bronin recently highlighted that Larson was one of only four Democrats to vote in 2024 against the Social Security Fairness Act, which was later signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The measure expanded benefits for Social Security for more than 2.8 million teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public workers in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 327 to 75. …
There are signs that Larson may be in trouble. Is it time for him to retire?
John Larson is the ultimate like a bump on a log representative. While SSA is burning he’s not doing enough to put out the fire. He accepts a huge amount of PAC money and the midterms are all about changing leadership young and old. The next chairman of this powerful committee should spread the word that SSA is in a tailspin and that the status quo will not be tolerated.
ReplyDeleteLarson insists the 1st Congressional District is not for sale. Here’s a random sample of some of the special interests that have donated to the 14-term Democrat in recent years with no expectation of intruding on the Congressman’s time or attention:
ReplyDeleteA Pleasant Peninsula
WaMart Inc. PAC for Responsible Government
The Home Depot Inc PAC
Charter Communications PAC
CVS Health PAC
Bank of America PAC
T-Mobile U.S. Inc PAC
American Soybean Association PAC
Blue Cross Blue Shield PAC
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP Partners PAC
Greenberg Traurig PAC
Avangrid PAC
United Health Group PAC
Federation of American Hospitals PAC
Google PAC
AIPAC
Ambulatory Surgery Center Associations PAC
And on and on and on it goes for $6.6 million with only one seriously contested race–this one.
Anyone who is knowledgeable about the program would have voted against that nonsense. Him voting against it is actually a point in his favor, not that most people will see it that way. Because most people don't know jack about what Social Security is or how it works.
ReplyDeleteSocial Security policy experts across the political spectrum thought the Social Security Fairness Act was a bad idea. It was a giveaway to a small group of former government employees, most of whom were not in any need and now come out well ahead of people with identical earnings histories earned solely in the private sector. But you have to be fairly knowledgeable about Social Security to understand why it's a bad idea, and most legislators and voters are not. NARFE did a great job lobbying on this bill. It's a dumb reason to vote against Larson (even if you liked the bill, it's not going to come up again...he didn't stop it before and he won't be able to stop it in the future) but a lot of people are dumb so maybe it will work as an attack issue.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the fact that he didn’t want the fairness act to go through is not really a strike against him. It was basically a special interests handout. Now the fact that he’s 78 years old and is apparently heavily reliant on pac money is what is concerning.
ReplyDeleteSo many of these people just have no humility. I mean once you’re over 75 why aren’t you just stepping away? Everyone’s super fed up with the gerontocracy. I mean, mentor someone younger, and be part of the solution and not the problem. That’s all too human I guess to want to hold onto power.
The fairness act was a Trojan horse. It looked great more, money for retired federal employees. On a personal level, several of my nearest and dearest benefited. So what's the problem? Payouts under this program will only serve to drawdown the trust fund faster. Why do you think that so many Republicans opposed it.
ReplyDelete