It appears that Duncan Black's dirty hippy plan is starting to play itself out and Senate Democrats are getting on board with a plan to expand our Social Security benefits.
Senate Democrats Will Introduce Proposal To Expand Social Security Benefits
June 10, 2014

It appears that Duncan Black's dirty hippy plan is starting to play itself out and Senate Democrats are getting on board with a plan to expand our Social Security benefits.

Greg Sargent:

The idea has long remained outside the boundaries of acceptable Beltway discourse, but more and more Dems are coming around to it: Instead of getting drawn onto GOP austerity turf — into a debate over how much to cut Social Security — Dems should instead go on offense on the issue and push for an expansion of the program.

Today, I’m told, Senate Democrats will introduce a proposal to expand Social Security benefits for certain groups — and it is picking up the support of a member of the Democratic leadership, Senator Patty Murray of Washington State. Senator Mark Begich of Alaska will take the lead on the proposal, and he and Murry will speak about it on the Senate floor this afternoon.

The new proposal is called the Retirement and Income Security Enhancements Act, or RAISE Act, and it would increase benefits specifically for groups who have seen their retirement security eroded by recent economic trends such as the transition to two-earner families, stagnating wages, declining savings, and the erosion of pensions. It would increase benefits for many divorced spouses, and widows and widowers, and would extend benefit eligibility for some children of retired, disabled or deceased workers – to be paid for by a two-percent payroll tax on earnings over $400,000, which is also designed to help shore up the program’s long-term finances.

As you know I'm a solid supporter of this plan. Corporations and the wealthy receive billions of dollars of tax breaks, credits and corporate welfare from the government and the people get nothing. It's about time that changes especially when it comes to the elderly.

As Duncan Black says:

The elderly vote, and they like their benefits. That neither political party has been pandering to them, except in the weird negative way of promising to screw the youngs has been just bizarre to me. It's a mystery to me how people are paid lots of money to tell candidates not to promise to give the elderly more and better benefits.

It's a smart idea and one that should pass except for the fact that the Pete Peterson's along with Tea Party clown posse of this country will spend millions to destroy the idea and they do have the beltway villagers wrapped around their nasty fingers.

Here's a few related articles on the topic.

Do The Right Thing: Expand Social Security Benefits

Push To Expand Social Security Is On The March

Alaska's Sen. Mark Begich Campaigning On Expanding Social Security

Will Dems Campaign On Expanding Social Security? Let's Hope So

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