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Social Security Workers Must Push Bush Agenda
Federal union leaders say the Bush administration is ordering employees in the Social Security Administration to promote the distorted White House propaganda message that Social Security is in a "crisis" that can only be fixed by private investment accounts.
"Previously, our employees had shared information with the public about Social Security's financial condition but had never been encouraged to support any particular 'reform' proposal. In fact, they were always expected to remain neutral on political and legislative matters," said Steve Kofahl, president of AFGE Local 3937 and regional vice president of the National Social Security Council, an AFGE affiliate that represents SSA workers.
Kofahl and Debbie Fredericksen, executive vice president of the NSSC, made their comments before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee in Jan. 28. Their testimony refutes recent White House claims that SSA employees are not being used to promote privatization.
"The use of SSA resources to advocate political positions is wrong and compromises the integrity and credibility of the Social Security Administration," Fredericksen said. "The credibility problem becomes even more acute, when SSA employees are directed to make political statements that are untrue or exaggerated. This undermines the SSA mission to provide clear, accurate and objective information to the American people about the Social Security system."
Prior to the union leaders' testimony, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and other senior House Democrats wrote SSA Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart to condemn the use of public funds and public employees for political propaganda.
"There is a pattern of propaganda by the Bush administration that must be stopped," they said. "It has paid a conservative commentator to covertly promote No Child Left Behind, produced fake video news releases designed to look like real news reports and is using Social Security Administration employees to undermine Social Security."
The administration, however, is banking on far more than public workers to pursue its privatization agenda. White House allies have launched an election-style campaign to sell the plan and corporations are priming to spend millions in advertising.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Republican Party is organizing grassroots supporters by setting up a points-earning system, similar to frequent flier miles, to solicit their support for privatizing Social Security and other GOP priorities. Under the plan, millions of activists would get goodies from the Republican National Committee for amassing points by calling talk radio shows, writing letters to newspapers and contacting elected representatives.
"Previously, our employees had shared information with the public about Social Security's financial condition but had never been encouraged to support any particular 'reform' proposal. In fact, they were always expected to remain neutral on political and legislative matters," said Steve Kofahl, president of AFGE Local 3937 and regional vice president of the National Social Security Council, an AFGE affiliate that represents SSA workers.
Kofahl and Debbie Fredericksen, executive vice president of the NSSC, made their comments before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee in Jan. 28. Their testimony refutes recent White House claims that SSA employees are not being used to promote privatization.
"The use of SSA resources to advocate political positions is wrong and compromises the integrity and credibility of the Social Security Administration," Fredericksen said. "The credibility problem becomes even more acute, when SSA employees are directed to make political statements that are untrue or exaggerated. This undermines the SSA mission to provide clear, accurate and objective information to the American people about the Social Security system."
Prior to the union leaders' testimony, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and other senior House Democrats wrote SSA Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart to condemn the use of public funds and public employees for political propaganda.
"There is a pattern of propaganda by the Bush administration that must be stopped," they said. "It has paid a conservative commentator to covertly promote No Child Left Behind, produced fake video news releases designed to look like real news reports and is using Social Security Administration employees to undermine Social Security."
The administration, however, is banking on far more than public workers to pursue its privatization agenda. White House allies have launched an election-style campaign to sell the plan and corporations are priming to spend millions in advertising.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Republican Party is organizing grassroots supporters by setting up a points-earning system, similar to frequent flier miles, to solicit their support for privatizing Social Security and other GOP priorities. Under the plan, millions of activists would get goodies from the Republican National Committee for amassing points by calling talk radio shows, writing letters to newspapers and contacting elected representatives.