In one of its first actions the new House of Representatives voted to approve a rule that blocks the transfer of funds from the Social Security’s larger retirement and survivors’ trust fund to the disability trust fund. Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a critic of the action, notes that such transfers have been done routinely in the past under both Republican and Democratic presidents. Vermont’s junior Senator is working with The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare to assure the reallocation occurs. WAMC North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley spoke with Max Richtman, the President and CEO of the National Committee, about its concerns over the House rule.
The measure to block the transfer of funds was drafted by Texas Republican Sam Johnson, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee. In a press releaseafter its approval, he calls it a common sense measure. He says the Democratic plan keeps the retirement program in a worse state and problems with the disability program remain. He believes that his rule encourages reform.